Underground cables for street redesign

Summary#

Montréal city council adopted a decision asking Hydro-Québec to design the undergrounding of overhead cable networks along rue Jean-Talon Est, from 24e Avenue to rue Buies, in the borough of Saint-Léonard. The goal, as described by city staff, is to clear space for the planned street redesign and pedestrian route.

  • The City’s Direction des grands projets de transport en partenariat must submit the request to Hydro-Québec. Hydro-Québec is asked to design the electrical work and identify the civil-engineering needs.
  • The Commission des services électriques de Montréal (CSEM) must act as technical integrator and manage the civil works. The City commits to repaying CSEM’s civil-work costs, administration fees and other necessary activities.
  • The City authorizes its director to sign related documents and agreements. If the City later postpones or abandons the request, it must repay Hydro-Québec’s costs, estimated at $330,000 before taxes.
  • City staff say the work must be awarded directly to Hydro-Québec because it alone can alter its distribution network. The decision does not itself guarantee the project will proceed: Hydro-Québec must accept the request.

What it means for you#

  • Residents and people using the street: City staff say undergrounding would remove poles from the planned sidewalk area. The decision authorizes design work; it does not itself complete the work or guarantee a clear, accessible route.
  • The City: It must submit the request and repay CSEM for specified costs. If Hydro-Québec accepts, city staff’s schedule anticipates design in 2027–2028 and civil works starting in 2029.
  • The public: This decision does not create a new service or require residents to apply or take action.

Money#

The City has a conditional $330,000-before-taxes repayment commitment to Hydro-Québec; the full project cost is not stated.

  • The $330,000 is payable if the City postpones or abandons the request. City staff say the final amount would be recalculated for the affected section and paid from the Service de l’urbanisme et de la mobilité’s operating budget.
  • The City also commits to repaying CSEM’s civil-work costs, administration fees and other necessary activities, but no amount is given.
  • A separate 2025 borrowing bylaw authorized $50 million for the wider rue Jean-Talon Est redesign. This decision does not say how much, if any, is allocated to undergrounding.

What is unclear#

  • Full design and construction costs: No publicly available information.
  • The decision does not specify the amount or limit of the City’s payments to CSEM.
  • City staff describe electrical and telecommunications cables, but the decision does not identify which telecommunications networks or owners are included.
  • Hydro-Québec’s acceptance is conditional; the decision does not say when it will decide.

Case for#

  • City staff say poles in the planned sidewalk area would obstruct the new pedestrian route. Moving the cables underground could help make that route accessible.
  • City staff say underground cables would be less exposed to severe weather.
  • The request supports a street redesign that city staff say is linked to the Blue Line metro extension schedule.

Case against#

  • The City commits to repaying CSEM’s costs and fees without stating a total amount or cap.
  • If the City postpones or abandons the request, it could owe Hydro-Québec up to the current estimate of $330,000 before taxes; the final amount may be revised.
  • The work is to be given directly to Hydro-Québec rather than competitively tendered. City staff say this is because only Hydro-Québec can alter its network.