Saint-Jérôme will soon have a new cycle path to link the two halves of the city and promote active transportation. At least that’s what its mayor, Janice Bélair-Rolland, hopes.
“It’s a track of almost 8 km, which makes an exceptional active mobility route. As a consultant, I have been working there personally for 2 years ”, explains the mayor with enthusiasm. “I believe that it is necessary as a big city, as a city of possibilities, to provide itself with facilities like that. It is important to be able to travel a city from one end to the other in complete safety and in a green space. ”
The bike path would be built on the right-of-way of the old railway that crosses Saint-Jérôme. It starts from Boulevard de La Salette in Bellefeuille, crosses highway 15, runs along rue Laviolette, passes between Frenette high school and the Palais de justice, then goes down to La Rolland, before joining the P’tit Train from the North, for a journey of 8 km.
Acquisition
The section of the railway on the Bellefeuille side has been abandoned since 2001. The other half, east of Autoroute 15, has been inactive since 2015. The government of Quebec has a first right to purchase over all the railways in the province, explains Ms. Bélair-Rolland. The City of Saint-Jérôme is therefore in negotiations with Quebec to acquire the route of the railway.
“Currently, we are working together with our MP and the Minister of Transport. This is the end that is missing to begin the development. I’m still positive, I wish it was [réglé] within the next few months. We have good listening. ”
Arrangements and possibilities
Once the route has been acquired by the City, its development could take between one and two years, and cost between $ 200,000 and $ 500,000, estimates the mayor. In addition to crossings at intersections, cleaning and maintenance, it will be necessary to determine whether benches will be installed, if playpens will be set up on the edge, etc. “Could we go cross-country skiing here, possibly, like on the P’tit Train du Nord?” Certainly! “
By then, the rails and ties are already removed in some places, leaving room for a trail. “People have already made it their own, though. It’s a great course that people are already using ”, emphasizes Ms. Bélair-Rolland.
The mayor also believes that this project will make it possible to decompartmentalize Bellefeuille. “The city is split in two. We are crossed by Highway 15 and the North River. It brings two different energies, and our idea is really to make it a whole. ”
In addition to connecting the bike path to the P’tit Train du Nord, the first magistrate dreams of one day extending the bike path to the west, towards Lachute. It would then be possible to join the Route verte, and to reach Gatineau by bike. “There are so many possibilities! “
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