Montreal funds soil studies for pedestrian lanes

Summary#

Montréal city council approved an increase of $46,755.31, net of tax rebates, to the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough’s allocation from the city’s environmental liability reserve. The money is for additional environmental studies for the planned Alma and Carmel pedestrian lanes; the stated goal is to help estimate soil cleanup and rehabilitation costs.

  • City staff say Groupe ABS inc. will carry out the studies under an existing framework agreement (a contract covering services for multiple city projects).
  • The studies will update earlier site assessments and estimate the costs of cleaning up and rehabilitating the soil.
  • The decision funds the studies, not the soil cleanup or construction of the lanes.

What it means for you#

  • Plateau-Mont-Royal borough: The borough gets the added allocation to pay for the studies. City staff say it must report its spending to the city’s Environment Department every three months.
  • Residents and the public: The decision does not itself approve cleanup work or construction. City staff’s schedule anticipates lane construction starting in summer 2028.
  • Individuals: The decision does not directly change anyone’s rights, fees, or taxes.

Money#

The approved allocation is $46,755.31 net of tax rebates; the equivalent amount including taxes is $51,203.16.

  • The city centre pays 100% from its environmental liability reserve.
  • The estimate includes $42,504.83 net for professional services and $4,250.48 net in contingency (money set aside for unexpected costs). City staff say final spending could be lower.

What is unclear#

  • The decision does not approve or set a budget for the later soil cleanup, rehabilitation, or lane construction.
  • It does not state how much the later work will cost; the studies are meant to help estimate that.
  • The decision does not give a separate contract term or tender result for this specific work.

Case for#

  • The studies can update information about soil contamination before the city estimates cleanup costs and plans the lanes.
  • Funding comes from the city reserve set aside for contaminated-soil costs, rather than from the borough’s allocation alone.

Case against#

  • This funding pays for studies, not cleanup. The decision leaves the cost and funding of the actual soil work unresolved.
  • The $46,755.31 is an estimate with contingency, so the final spending is not yet known.