RTC: The break on the Newton Center site costs $ 2 million more

In addition to the sums already spent in the project. Furthermore, the forced stop at the Newton Center site has caused additional costs of $ 2 million to the capital’s transport network (RTC), learned The newspaper.

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Last April. However, the CAQ suddenly stopped the site of the future GARAGE du RTC for electric buses, called the Newton Center. Moreover, The project aimed to meet a government requirement, which forces transport companies to electrify their bus fleet.

In April. However, the management of the RTC had strongly denounced this government’s decision, shouting at the “shameless waste of public funds” rtc: break newton center site for this project, started in 2021.

The RTC recalls in a written answer to our questions that “the government of Quebec approved a budgetary envelope of $ 146 million for the project. of which around $ 94 million had been engaged during our update on the project last April”.

Additional sums

Since then, additional sums have been recorded, the spokesperson Raphaëlle Savard has confirmed. “To this amount is now added about $ 2 million for the break on the site,” she said.

This sum was used to “cover a portion of the wintering work necessary for the protection of the works already carried out on the site. in particular the work of solidification of the soil”, specified the RTC on Friday. All to “preserve the investments made so far”.

Other costs could be added. “The amounts are not yet known given the current discussions with suppliers.”

We still don’t know rtc: break newton center site what will happen to the garage. “For the rest. the RTC will continue its representations in order to ensure a third functional infrastructure to ensure the continuity of its operations,” said Mr.^me Savard.

The Minister of Transport. Geneviève Guilbault, had asked in April that the $ 647 million project be revised downwards in order to “meet the needs with less expensive solutions”.

In the political office of Minister Geneviève Guilbault, we preferred not to comment at the moment. It was not possible to have information on the continuation of the project at the ministry.

Négos pause

In addition. the negotiations between the RTC and its maintenance employees are on a break for the moment and will not resume until early August. The last session in front of the conciliator mediator was held on July 15 and was “productive”, according to the employer. “Negotiations will continue in August, the dates planned rtc: break newton center site are those of 4, 7, 13, 15, 19, 21, 26, 28.” The mechanics held 10 days of strike in the middle of the summer festival, which paralyzed the bus service.

The union also held two days of strike in May. According to the RTC, this is what caused a decrease in traffic. About 7.5 million trips were recorded between April and June, a drop of 2.5 % compared to the same period in 2024.