Public meeting next week for Les Cèdres Intermodal project

The latest session, another in a series of public consultations and meetings, will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the Salle des Bâtisseurs, 145 rue Valade, Les Cèdres.

CP spokesperson Michel Spénard says the public meeting is open to anyone wanting to get a project overview in terms of which federal and provincial agencies will be involved in the remainder of the process.

Representatives from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec, CPTAQ, the provincial agricultural agency, and Canadian Transportation Agency, CTA, will be present at next week’s meeting.

Both agencies are expected to offer presentations and answer questions, said Spénard, adding that the focus will be on the “big picture” and not “the meat of the project.”

“They won’t talk about how many trucks there will be, or specific numbers… this will really be for the people who have asked us in the past for an overview,” he said.

Spénard confirmed that project dossiers have been filed with the CPTAQ and the CTA.

A portion of next week’s session will also address which additional provincial and federal ministries may be consulted on the project.

If approved, the proposed terminal will be situated on 330 hectares of Les Cèdres land

(815 acres,) and will be run 24-hours a day by CPR.

The complex will be used for transferring, handling and warehousing goods delivered by trucks and trains and will include an intermodal terminal for handling containers, as well as distribution centres.

It is also expected to create a job boom in the area in terms of hiring.

According to project plans, the mega centre will be situated north of Exit 26 off of Highway 20, and west of the proposed Highway 30 project that when built will link with Highway 20 and the 540 interchange. The location and improved road network, including Highway 30, are considered crucial for accommodating the projected 5,000 trucks a day that are expected use the rail terminal by 2011.

CPR officials plan to build a dedicated truck road linking the complex with Highway 20, while noise and vision barriers such as trees and shrubs will be planted.

In addition to next Wednesday’s session, CPR has been operating an information office that is open each Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1000 ch du Fleuve, Les Cèdres.

Those unable to make the specified hours can make an appointment by calling 450 452-2462. To visit the CPR complex’s Website go to: www.cplescedres.ca.