Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position supporting a bylaw to borrow $1,200,000 for cycling infrastructure in phase two of the avenue des Pins redevelopment. This is an orientation to the agglomeration council, which makes the final decision at a later meeting; city council has not itself enacted the borrowing bylaw. The stated goal is to finance cycling works and related professional services.
- The proposed borrowing covers cycling works and related studies, design, construction preparation, work supervision, and incidental or unforeseen expenses.
- The work covers avenue des Pins, avenue du Docteur-Penfield and rue University, including stretches between rue Peel, avenue du Parc, rue McTavish and rue Milton.
- The total term of the loan and any refinancing must not exceed 20 years.
- The proposed loan is for costs within the agglomeration council’s responsibilities. Owners of infrastructure assets, such as CSEM, Bell and Énergir, are to pay costs related to their assets; other project expenses are to be covered through separate borrowing bylaws.
What it means for you#
- People travelling in the area: If the bylaw takes effect, the borrowing would fund cycling infrastructure on the listed streets. City staff say the wider project aims to improve safety and comfort for active travel and serve a redeveloped area expected to have nearly 6,000 new users.
- Residents and taxpayers: The decision does not directly change taxes, fees or benefits. It supports borrowing, but the materials do not say how loan repayments will be allocated.
- City administration: The funding would support upcoming work on phase two. City staff say that without the borrowing bylaw, a professional-services contract for rue University lot C, planned for spring 2026, would be delayed, affecting construction planned for spring 2027 and the wider work schedule.
Money#
The borrowing bylaw would authorize $1,200,000 in borrowing; no estimate of interest or total repayment is provided.
- The loan would fund capital costs for cycling works and related professional services. Its term, including refinancing, could be up to 20 years.
- The decision summary says these expenses would receive no government grant.
- The full cost of phase two is not stated here. Other project costs are to be funded separately, and infrastructure asset owners are to cover costs related to their assets.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not identify the source or allocation of loan repayments, or the interest and total borrowing cost.
- They do not give the total cost of phase two or explain how the $1,200,000 relates to the project’s other funding.
- The decision summary lists a planned approval by the provincial municipal affairs ministry in spring 2026. It says the bylaw would take effect on publication, but gives no publication date.
Case for#
- City staff say the borrowing would provide credits for the next steps of the project and help avoid delays to the rue University work and the wider schedule.
- The loan is limited to cycling works and related professional services within the agglomeration’s responsibilities, with separate funding for other project costs.
- A loan term of up to 20 years spreads the financing of capital works over time.
Case against#
- The decision adds borrowing that could remain outstanding, including through refinancing, for up to 20 years.
- No government grant is planned for these expenses, and the materials do not state the interest cost, repayment source or full project cost.
- The materials describe the project’s goals, but do not quantify the expected safety or cycling benefits of the work funded by this loan.