In a year-end interview with the Montreal Gazette, Mayor Valérie Plante said she's proud of the decisions her administration has taken in its first year, even as some have ruffled quite a few feathers, saying that there are some issues "where you can't wait to act."
Plante in particular singled out the decision to halt construction work along Sainte-Catherine Street West, currently set to resume in February after a fresh round of coordination and consultation to accomodate concurrent work to construct the new REM station beneath McGill College Avenue.
She described the changes Projet Montréal made to the revitalization plans for the city's main shopping street as necessary. The decision to widen the street's sidewalks as a part of the work — and to slightly reduce parking spaces — were things Plante said "we couldn't just let go."
As for the furor over the summer pilot project that limited traffic across Mount Royal, Plante reiterated her commitment to respect the final round of public consultations, but indicated that the protection of the lives of people on foot and bicycles has to be prioritized over the convenience of drivers.
"Sometimes people agree in principle, they’re on board with the idea, but if it affects their habits, they agree less," Plante remarked.