No through traffic on Mount Royal this summer, but bus service will be extended

The City of Montrealwill closeCamillien Houde Way to most motorized traffic, increasing bus service but preventing other vehiclesfrom crossing over Mount Royal,as part of a pilot project beginning June 1.

Only city, school and tourist buses, along with emergency vehicles and funeral processions, will be allowed to cut across the mountain, from one end to the other.

All other vehicles will be forced to stop at the Smith House parking lot if they're travelling from the east and at the Beaver Lake parking lot, coming from the west.

The pilot project, which runs from June 2 to Oct. 31, 2018, makes a550-metre stretch ofCamillien-HoudeWay off-limits to through traffic.

The 711 bus service, a modified version of the 11 bus, which runs from Snowdon to Mont-Royal Metro during the summer, will startthree weeks earlier than usual.

From June 2 to June 17, the bus will operate only on weekends. Starting June 18, the summer bus will run seven days a week. There will also be two new stops, at theNotre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemeteryand at a newly announced rest areacalled BelvdreSoleil.

Just like Central Park, Plantesays

At the announcement Friday, Mayor Valrie Plante said that, like New York City, which recently announced it would ban all cars and trucks from Central Park during the summer, the mountain needs to "return to its original purpose."

She said the city is "laying the groundwork for saferroad-sharingon the mountain," and that public consultations would give citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions.

"I get that some people are against it. We are willing to hear what people have to say," she said. "We are going to move forward with a solid understanding of what people want."

Plantesaidshe doesn't think the plan will have a negative effect on tourists wanting to access the mountain, however, she recognizes it will be an inconvenience to commuters.

"I think it will be more difficult for people who use it every day."

According to a document prepared by the city and posted on the website of its public consultation body, the Office de consultation publique de Montral, drivers who currently use the mountain as a shortcut could see their commute increase by up to 12 minutes once the pilot project starts.

The same document predicts that streets such as Cte-Sainte-Catherine Road, PineAvenue and Docteur-Penfield Avenue will see an increase in traffic.

Worries about access

LesAmis de la montagne, thenon-profit group that advocates for conservation of the mountain, is concerned too few details of the pilot project have been publicized. They worry that will make accessdifficult for visitors unfamiliar with the area.

"Mont-Royal Park is a park for the whole city and beyond," saidHlne Panaoti, the group's director of communication.

"So the family that comes in from Sainte-Thrsewith their car ...or the family from Cte-des-Neigeswho comes on Sundays for a picnic how theyexperience the pilot project is an important thing to take into consideration, as well."

The groupis nevertheless supportive of the public consultation process, and it hopes large numbers of Montrealerscome forward to their share their vision of the park.

The plan has faced stiff criticism, including a petition signed by thousands of residents.

Opponentsargue that blocking Camillien-HoudeWaywill reduce access to the mountain and create a barrier between the city's east and west ends.

The pilot projectwill includesome development on the mountain with the creation of a pop-up caf and family-oriented events such asstargazing.

The move to reduce vehicular traffic comes after an18-year-old cyclist,Clment Ouimet, died when hecollided with anSUVthat pulled a U-turn in front of his bicycle on Camillien-HoudeWaylast year.