(Aug. 12, 2019) — Today the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont, and Sylvie Vachon, president of the Port of Montreal, announced an important investment of $37 million to increase transport efficiency, capacity, and security by reducing waiting times and bottlenecks for container movements at the Port of Montréal. The contributing investment will be split 50/50 between the port and the government.
“Close to 1.7 million containers transited through the port’s container terminals in 2018, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2017. The trucking industry appreciates Minister Garneau’s announcement as it recognizes the expanding economic importance of the Port of Montreal and the role the trucking industry plays in the Port’s success,” said Patrick Turcotte, CTA Board member and the recent past Chairperson of the Quebec Trucking Association.
The Government of Canada funding will address the following projects:
(i) An IT system for truck logistics that allows drivers to pre-register for the port’s terminals, thus increasing the flow of traffic;
(ii) Building a railway bridge outside the truck entrance to improve truck traffic at the port; deploying a series of electronic signs on the port lands that will provide real-time information for truck drivers;
(iii) Developing an intelligent communications network to reduce truck traffic in the vicinity of the port.
“The trucking industry is facing a critical shortage of drivers. Today’s investment will ensure that our vehicles operating in the Port of Montreal are maximizing their allowable driving hours in a productive way,” added Turcotte. “An efficient port process could lead to greater economic growth in the area and perhaps less trucks needed to serve the Port despite economic expansion, which is a win for the industry, the economy and the environment.”
Photo: The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont, Patrick Turcotte, CTA Board Member, Immediate Past Chair QTA and President, Groupe TYT; Normand Bourque, Coordinator, Technical and Operational Issues, QTA; Sylvie Vachon Président and CEO, Port of Montreal