Montreal is on the verge of a new transit plan that includes the possible return of bridge tolls, more reserved bus lanes, and four tram lines including one to the top of Mount Royal, but not the full return of a tramway network, at least not at first.

I'd like to feel more enthusiasm for the tram thing, but I can't help a suspicion that, as Montreal jumped aboard the tram-demolition bandwagon in the 1950s without thinking ahead, because it was the fashion, it's now leaping onto another fashion bandwagon – trams as the cool urban solution – largely because many European cities have done so over the last decade. I can't help but foresee tram construction sites blocking up our streets for years (as happened in Dublin with the Luas) and cost overruns like those that plagued the Laval metro extension.

There's not much these trams will do that you couldn't do instantly by putting more buses on the 11, 80 and 165 routes, and creating a navette route for Old Montreal. But buses are so unglamorous.
posted at 10:58