Montreal 'mobility squad' will have the power to issue fines in effort to ease traffic woes
Increase in traffic expected as REM construction ramps up
In an effort to ease Montrealers' traffic woes, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has launched a mobility squad that can issue fines, remove illegal construction barriers and communicate directly with those who are responsible for roadwork and closures.
The team has been in the works since June 2018, and is tasked with quickly intervening to solve traffic problems and improve circulation in the city, Plante said.
It comes as Montrealers brace for an increase in traffic as a result of continuing work on the Décarie Expressway, Turcot Interchange and the Champlain Bridge.
On top of that, work related to construction of the new light-rail train network (REM) is ramping up.
The mobility squad will consist of six people, all existing borough inspectors, according to the city.
They'll be on duty from Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Our traffic report explains how the squad will work.
Squad members are intended to be the liaison between Montreal's road camera surveillance network, emergency, police and fire services, and the City of Montreal.
The squad also has the power to issue fines.
Drivers could be slapped with a ticket if they are illegally parked or double-parked and causing congestion.
If a construction company is found to be in violation of its permit, inspectors could hand out fines ranging from $400 to $1,000.
The squad could also dismantle construction sites that aren't in operation.
Before a construction project that affects city roads gets underway, the mobility squad will meet with the company and inform them of all the city roadwork rules.
"What we are proposing is a very concrete tool to make sure that we can fix some problems before it becomes a huge problem for car drivers and truck drivers," Plante said.
The Quebec government said last week it will invest $500,000 in the mobility squad.
With files from CBC's Navneet Pall and Jeremy Zafran