It was 4:54 a.m. when 911 was notified of a fire in that residential area, located almost at the western end of Saint-Martin Boulevard, on the Sainte-Dorothée’s side.

Arriving at 4:57 a.m., the first of the nine units of Laval’s Fire and Safety Department required for the intervention (34 firefighters), had no trouble figuring out the magnitude of the situation.

At that time, flames were visible on the first two of the four floors of the building, in addition to reaching the rest of the structure and igniting some of the balconies.

Maneuvers in extreme cold

While the wind factor forced work to be done in a temperature of around minus 20 degrees, firefighters first completed the evacuation of the premises.

Meanwhile, help was requested from the Service de police de Laval (SPL), Hydro-Québec, the Société de transport de Laval (STL), and the City of Laval’s public works department.

The firefighters mainly concentrated their efforts on stopping the spread of the flames to the other floors and to the roof of the building, valued at $6 million, noting that the smoke detectors of the place were functional.

It was around 6:24 a.m. that firefighters brought the fire under control, but it caused damage summarily assessed at $300,000 for the building, and $100,000 for its contents.

Eight people will have to relocate following the fire. The investigation was transferred to the SPL, the firefighters having been unable to determine its origin 100 per cent.

However, the fire would have most likely started on the first floor.

Due to freezing weather conditions, a firefighter injured his ankle while executing his duties.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article $400,000 in Damage for a Suspicious Fire in Sainte-Dorothée est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Elections are always an opportunity for the various organizations to send their grievances to the parties presenting themselves. The ATCL is no exception to the rule. The OBNL (non-profit organisation) has sent a press release in which appears an exhaustive list of its demands for the next mandate.

“We want the candidates of the six ridings to learn about the projects we’re defending, and commit to supporting sustainable mobility if elected,” said Nicolas Lemire, president of the ATCL.

Among the requests, the ambitious development of a structuring transport network deployed throughout the municipality. The ATCL board of directors even argues that the city is ready for a more developed public transport network that would serve its entire territory. Also according to the association, the budget allocated for public transport should equal the budget allocated to the maintenance of Laval’s road network.

A metro line, light metro or tramway crossing the island from East to West, and connecting to downtown, is also part of the requests sent to the six candidates of the different parties. Such an initiative regarding the public transport network would consolidate the development of the city, and change transport habits of Laval residents, according to what the OBNL’s board of directors suggests.

The ATCL also expects a favorable response to its proposal to extend the orange line to downtown Laval, as well as for the expressways it would like to see erected on the entire road network of its territory.

“The provincial government is an essential player through its support for various public transport projects,” Lemire concluded. “From an ecological transition perspective, candidates must show it’s a priority for them, as it is for us.”

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article It’s ATCL’s Turn to Lengthen its Requests est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

These past years, the STL has been trying to increase its number of electric buses in circulation. It won’t be easy to ensure public transport’s electric shift in Laval, but the committee working on the file has been preparing for it for a long time now.

Alexandra Gallo, project manager and engineer, says that in 2018, the STL started a pilot project with 10 hybrid buses, thus making it possible to better see the needs and changes necessary in the future for the desired full electrification.

“[Those vehicules] are currently circulating on our roads in Laval,” Gallo said. “They’re doing so since May 2021, and have been randomly dispersed across the territory in order to allow the majority of users to enjoy them. We’re talking here about a way much quieter and ecological experience for users. When we received those buses, we did a lot of tests, in part because of the new technologies they’re bringing.”

In total, the project is worth nearly 246 million, including studies, plans and other preparatory work. Of that amount, the Government of Canada will pay more than 85 million, while 18 million are from Laval. The Government of Quebec is giving more than $142 million for the project.

Space Needed

In total, 145 new parking places will be built for these electric buses.

A 20 megawatt electrical entrance will also be added in order to power the buses. That energy need will increase the area of STL’s site by 50 per cent, since 25,000 m² will be added next to the current garage. The space the new garage will occupy will replace a parking lot.

Executive Director of the STL, Guy Picard indicates that the shell of the new electrical entrance will be built in 2024.

“We will thus have our facilities, and will be able to park our vehicles,” Picard said. “However, it’s only from 2025 that we’ll be able to manage the electrical load.”

Mayor of Laval, Stéphane Boyer, says he’s happy to see such a historic project moving forward in a convincing way.

“It will give wings to Laval,” Boyer said. “Our hopes of developing public transport and electrifying our trips are depending on the ability to have electric buses. The start of the construction of the electric garage is planned for the next few months, and that’s kind of the starting point we needed to get fully into the project. I’m happy and I think it will help provide better service to citizens.”

For his part, Sainte-Rose’s deputy Christopher Skeete recalled that even if it’s a long-term project, Prime Minister François Legault had committed to making this shift.

“We distinguish ourselves in Laval,” Skeete said at the press conference. “We’re even more aggressive. Laval is growing quickly, and the STL is very well positioned to initiate such pilot projects.”

With the completion of this project, bus maintenance costs would also be reduced by 15 to 20 per cent, according to the STL website.

L’article Historic Project for the STL est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

It leads to the removal of 332 old transport tickets, allowing to simplify users’ choice.

Now, Laval customers have the choice to pick “Bus” or “All modes” titles. Those titles allow you to use all modes of public transport available, including bus, metro, REM and paratransit.

Users then have to decide if they’re picking the option AB (Laval, Montreal and Longueil), the option ABC (Laval, Montreal, Longueil and the north and south shores), or the option ABCD (Laval, Montreal, Longueil, the north and south shores and what’s outside ARTM’s territory) of the desired title.

This adjustment means the end of passages and monthly passes for the Société de transport de Laval (STL), which will now be included in “All modes AB” and “Bus” titles for a similar price, while allowing to continue travelling to Montreal.

“The new titles give access to more services and flexibility,” explained Michel Lemay, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Marketing and Customer Experience at the ARTM during a technical briefing on April 28. “The philosophy behind that is to encourage people to avoid taking their car. The user will be in a better position to make a complete trip by public transport, with a title that costs less.”

New Prices

The ARTM took advantage of the situation to announce a two per cent basic price indexation, excluding the unit price that will stay at $3.50 in the post-pandemic context.

The “All modes AB” title costs $150. It replaces the TRAM 3 monthly pass, for $147.

The “Bus” pass costs $105, compared to the $101 for the monthly STL.

Users can use it for travels between Laval and the rest of the north shore, which wasn’t possible before.

Let’s remember that all those titles offer variations of one, two and 10 passages. The 10 passages “All modes AB” title had already been launched in December 2021, since it was considered useful for users doing teleworking and not looking to buy a monthly pass.

Third Phase

That second step completes the unveiling of the new titles that were supposed to be part of the current tariff overhaul. Nevertheless, the transformation process isn’t complete, since the harmonization and the gradual withdrawal of old titles will continue until July 2025.

The ARTM also plans to modernize the OPUS card system. According to Lemay, it will be necessary to make it progress during the upcoming years. However, that shouldn’t be happening in the next 12 to 18 months.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Tariff Overhaul: New Beneficial Titles for Users est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

More than 85 local exhibitors, including 40 Quebec microbreweries will take part in this sixth edition of the festival.

“In addition to being a discovery and tasting event, the mission of Laval’s Festival des bières is to educate attendees about the world of brewing, while promoting discussions with brewers from everywhere in Quebec,” we can read in the press release of the event.

A lot of Choices

Again this year, family and variety are put forward at the festival. Spokesperson since the first edition, Alexandre Goyette recalls the variety of products and different activities available during the event.

“There are also tastings,” the well-known comedian said. “We’ve got to that point with beer. It’s also about tasting products and discovering new things. Some brewers are also making wonderful non-alcoholic products. I remember a year when I had done six months without alcohol, and that happened to be at the same time as the festival. I had managed it very well during the event with all the varieties of products offered.”

Family Touch

Goyette adds that children can also have fun at the festival. Among other things, music shows, animations and inflatable games will be available for the youngest.

“There’s a family aspect to it, since after all, the event isn’t a big drinking party,” Goyette said. “I’m there with my children every year. We’re taking advantage of the playground for them, and it’s really nice. It’s as if they succeed to combine the two worlds together, and it works really well.”

This year, the festival will have compost bins on its site for the first time. Although Marilène Barale, instigator of the festival, has always worked on sustainable development, she was looking to present an even more ecological event in 2022.

“Anything plastic, which means water bottles or glasses, won’t be distributed,” Barale explained. “It was one of the waste we had the most. We’ve already been offering an official reusable cup, but some people weren’t buying it. Now, they’ll have to buy it, or bring one from home.”

Taking the metro will once again be free on the entire STL network, upon presentation of a festival ticket. Evening shuttle services on Friday and Saturday will also be offered. Those shuttles will directly go to the Montmorency station after the festival.

There are more than 30,000 people expected at the Festival des bières. La Festivaloise will be the official beer of the sixth edition of the festival, which comes from a collaboration between Pit Caribou and Laval residents from Les Insulaires Microbrasseurs, located on Boulevard de la Concorde.

L’article 17 New Microbreweries at the Festival des bières est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.