Four mayors of Montreal’s southwest boroughs met with officials from the Quebec government on September 21, 2026, to formally request that the province restart work on the long‑delayed Lachine tramway line. The group of four municipal leaders presented a unified appeal, arguing that a new public‑transport corridor is essential for the far‑southwest sector of the city.
The Lachine tram project, first proposed several years ago, has remained in planning limbo despite repeated references in regional transit discussions. The mayors emphasized that reviving the line would provide a dedicated rapid‑transit option for residents who currently rely on a patchwork of bus routes and personal vehicles. By reinstating the tram, they said, the area could see improved connectivity to downtown Montreal and neighboring districts.
In their request, the borough leaders highlighted the strategic location of the proposed line, which would run through the Lachine neighbourhood and extend toward the western edge of the island. They noted that the southwest corridor has experienced steady population growth and increasing demand for reliable, high‑capacity transit solutions. The mayors urged the provincial government to allocate the necessary resources and to move the project from study phases to concrete implementation.
Quebec officials have not yet issued a formal response, but the meeting marks the latest coordinated effort by local representatives to push the Lachine tramway back onto the province’s agenda. The mayors’ appeal follows a broader pattern of municipal advocacy for expanded transit infrastructure across the Greater Montreal area.
If the province decides to act, the tramway could become a key element of the region’s long‑term transportation strategy, offering an alternative to road‑based travel and supporting sustainable urban development in the city’s southwest.
The outcome of the mayors’ request remains to be seen, but the renewed focus on the Lachine tramway underscores the continued importance of the project to local communities seeking enhanced mobility options.