Montreal Executive Committee Designates $22M Green Corridor and Pedestrian Promenade Across Ville-Marie
City of Montreal Executive Committee authorizes a $22 million urban redesign project to create a 1.8-kilometer biophilic green corridor connecting downtown to Old Montreal.
Choseno Quebec Bureau August 19, 2026 1 min read QC, CA
★ Choseno Civic Briefing
MONTREAL, QC — The Executive Committee of the City of Montreal approved a $22.4 million capital expenditure on Tuesday to construct the Promenade des Rives, a 1.8-kilometer urban ecological corridor transforming Rue Saint-Antoine and Rue Saint-Jacques in the Ville-Marie borough.
Urban Greening and Heat Island Mitigation
The urban redesign project removes two vehicular traffic lanes to plant 450 native mature shade trees, construct permeable vegetated sponge-street rain gardens, and establish a dedicated bidirectional cycle track connecting the Quartier des Spectacles directly with the Old Port of Montreal.
Urban planning studies presented to the committee demonstrate that the green corridor will reduce local urban heat island temperatures by up to 3.5°C while diverting 28,000 cubic meters of stormwater runoff annually from the municipal combined sewer network.
Commercial Logistics and Pedestrian Safety
Executive Committee Chair Luc Rabouin confirmed that municipal planners incorporated dedicated off-peak commercial loading zones and automated bollard systems to support local restaurants and boutique retail operations.
Downtown merchant associations voiced strong support for the promenade, noting that pedestrian-first streetscapes significantly increase retail foot traffic and tourist engagement.
Phased Construction Timeline
Civil works will begin in April 2027 following the spring thaw, with phase one completion scheduled ahead of the 2027 summer festival season.
