Hosted by the Westmount Municipal Association, the discussion on the latest developments around the Quebec Minister of Transport’s (MTQ) proposal for the Turcot complex will feature Prof. Pierre Gauthier and urban planner Jason Prince, co-editors of the book Montréal at the Crossroads: Superhighways, the Turcot and the Environment. The two are expected to address the broad questions raised by the MTQ's proposal for the Turcot, how the project has evolved since the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) report was released, and what it all means for Westmount.

“The decision taken on the Turcot will have dramatic and long-term repercussions for the communities and neighbourhoods directly beside it, including Westmount,” says Gauthier, professor of urban planning at Concordia University. “In many ways, this project presents a fantastic opportunity to rethink our inner city and to harmonize the connections between sections of our city.”

“The MTQ’s plan for the Turcot anticipates a 15 per cent increase in traffic volumes by 2016,” says Prince, coordinator of action-research at McGill’s School of Urban Planning. “More traffic will generate more pollution, more accidents and more noise for residents who live near these thoroughfares. Montreal specific research, which adds to a growing literature from around the world, clearly shows that inner city highways are bad for our health.

“Some cities are responding by removing highways entirely. We don’t think Quebec will remove the Ville-Marie Expressway, but we do think that the MTQ could do a much better job, especially by improving transport choices via better mass transit.”

“On a more fundamental level, these highways enable urban sprawl and promote unsustainable urban development patterns,” adds Gauthier.

One of the event's organizers, WMA member Dr. Maureen Kiely, emphasises the importance of Westmounters keeping a close eye on the project. "Because of Westmount's proximity to the Turcot Interchange, it is inevitable that whatever changes are made to this structure will impact on our community," she says. "For this reason, it is important that (we) learn as much as we can about this project, and ensure that our interests and concerns are considered before the design plans are finalized."

The Price and Gauthier's discussion will take place in the Westmount Room of the Westmount Public Library, 4574 Sherbrooke St. W., next Thursday, Jan. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.