Montreal Street Reconfiguration Could Remove Parking, and Businesses Aren't Happy

The city of Montreal will spend $123 million on the first phase of a project to revamp Ste-Catherine Street, removing 140 on-street parking locations in the process. More parking spots could follow.

1 minute read

November 22, 2018, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Montreal, Quebec

Benoit Daoust / Shutterstock

Andy Riga reports on a parking controversy in Montreal, where Mayor Valérie Plante's administration has been "denying that it has already decided to eliminate almost 500 parking spots on Ste-Catherine St."

According to Riga, the Plante administration announced Phase 1 of a planned revamp of Ste-Catherine Street earlier this year, which included plans to remove the 140 parking spots between Bleury and Mansfield streets.

Then, earlier this week, "city council approved a contract to a consortium led by CIMA+ to study Phase 2 — the 1.7-kilometre stretch between Mansfield and Atwater Ave., where work would start after 2022." The feasibility study for Phase 2 included language that indicated the city plans to remove street parking on this second section of the project as well.

Those plans provoked some political and business leaders in the city to oppose the project out of fear that the street would lose retail shoppers to suburban malls in nearby cities.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018 in Montreal Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Man in teal shirt opening door to white microtransit shuttle with cactus graphics and making inviting gesture toward the camera.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps

New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

June 13 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Group of people at table set ouf with picnic food on street during a neighborhood block party.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors

A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

June 13 - The Kansas City Star

Crowd gathered with protest signs on April 5, 2025 on steps of Minnesota state capitol protesting Trump cuts to social security and other federal programs.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us

Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

June 13 - Shelterforce Magazine