Summary
Location: Quebec
- On May 11, 2018, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec, announced the rail bypass in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, in recognition of the ongoing toll on the community from the deadly rail accident that occurred in July 2013.
- The project, a 12.8km route at an estimated cost of $133 million, will be funded by the federal (60%) and the provincial (40%) governments.
- Since the announcement, several technical and environmental studies were completed. On August 28, 2019, Transport Canada (TC) announced the relocation of the triage activities to the industrial park of Lac-Mégantic, which contributed to the social acceptability of the project.
- The provincial environmental assessment process is underway and the Government of Quebec’s Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) released its public report on October 24, 2019. The report recommended that the proposed route be maintained, which is a significant milestone for the project to move forward. Subject to a provincial Cabinet decision expected by January 2020, the project could proceed and the recommendations from the report will be integrated to the project.
- The feasibility study final report, which will inform on the engineering specifics, is expected to be completed by March 2020. The planning and design phase will be launched in spring 2020.
- The Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ), the current owner of the railway, was identified as the proponent of the project. Fortress Ltd, a United States based investment company, which owns CMQ, has expressed a desire to sell CMQ by end of this year. TC continues to monitor the situation very closely and will advise on any future development.
- TC continues to work with its provincial and municipal partners, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and all other parties involved to implement this important social reconstruction project.
- PSPC has initiated the land acquisition process. Since there is no change to the proposed route as a result of the BAPE report, the land acquisition process can continue while the Government of Quebec completes its environmental assessment process. PSPC will open an office in Lac-Mégantic in January 2020 to help provide services to local residents.