Inauguration of a new 2.3 km long section of the bike path on Elm Avenue in the City of Beaconsfield

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 30, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Elected officials of Montréal, Mr. Aref Salem, executive committee member in charge of transportation and Mr. Marc-André Gadoury, in charge of the cycling dossier, accompanied by Mr. Georges Bourelle, mayor of Beaconsfield, inaugurated today a two-way section that extends by 2.3 km the Elm Avenue bike path in the City of Beaconsfield.

This new cycling development, which falls under the responsibility of the Montréal urban agglomeration, is located on the south side of Elm Avenue, between Montrose Street and Brown Owl Lane. A 0.2 metre border separates cyclists from car traffic. The new asphalted corridor thus ensures a continuity of the bike path which begins at Woodland Avenue, near the Beaurepaire train station, to Brown Owl Lane, near the Beaconsfield train station – two stations that serve the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter train service. The development of this new section also includes the redevelopment of the pedestrian overpass at Highway 20, connecting the area south of the highway and more specifically, Beaconsfield High School.

"Incorporating this new section of bike path on Elm Avenue will encourage Beaconsfield residents to use their bikes to get to the train station or school in full comfort and security. This achievement is also part of the goal of encouraging the use of public and active transportation and of Montréal's Vision zero strategy to increase the physical safety of the most vulnerable users in urban areas," said Mr. Aref Salem.

"The Montréal urban agglomeration is continuing to develop the cycling network while offering cyclists optimal, attractive and competitive travel conditions, whether for useful purposes or for leisure. We can say mission accomplished for the western part of Beaconsfield as the new development of Elm Avenue will allow many residents of this area to have fast and safe access to one of the intermodal stations in their city," added Mr. Marc-André Gadoury.

" First, I would like to thank Mr. Aref Salem, member of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal and responsible for transportation, for his invaluable collaboration on this project. The new bike path is more suited to the needs of cyclists in our region. Now, we have a safe east–west cycling corridor on the north side of Beaconsfield for students, train commuters, recreational riders and families," concluded Mayor Georges Bourelle.

The 2017-2019 three-year capital works program provides for an annual investment of $15 million for the development and upgrading of the Montréal urban agglomeration cycling network. The 2.3 km extension of the Elm Avenue bike path was completed at a cost of $ 1.6 million. Its completion is part of the objective of adding 50 km of bike paths to the Montréal network for the current year.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

For further information: Source: Noémie Brière-Marquez, Press attaché, Office of the mayor and executive committee, 514 243-1268; Information: Linda Boutin, Press relations officer, Division des relations avec les médias, 514 872-6013; Caterina Pompeo, Head of Communications, City of Beaconsfield, 514 428-4400, ext.: 4453