Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

In 2016, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) announced plans to build the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), a state-of-the-art, $6.3 billion public transport project that will link numerous suburbs-and the airport-to downtown Montreal with frequent rail service. The undertaking is expected to impact all residents of the Montreal metropolitan region at various scales and in various ways. This research project will concentrate on measuring the impacts of such major infrastructure project on the health, social, environmental, economic, physical, and psychological wellbeing of all Montreal residents, before, during and after the construction. This is an unprecedented opportunity to study a major public transport project of this scale in the Canadian context. The last time a major public transport project of this size was built in the 1970s. The lessons it will teach are particularly timely. Even before the REM's completion, regional and provincial officials are already discussing expansions. At the same time, the federal government is pledging to support similar projects across Canada as part of its efforts to improve equity and combat the climate crisis. To our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been planned to fully assess the REM's possibly profound impacts on travel behaviour and public health. Several sections of the REM are already under construction and slated to open in 2021. Construction on others has yet to begin, giving us a brief window to conduct research to measure how the REM's impact is felt at various stages of development and operation. In the end, the research will help policymakers and planners make better-informed decisions about major public investments to improve Canadians health and welfare.