Quebec City unveils ambitious new plans for its first ‘vélocité corridor’

Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec, has announced the proposed route for its inaugural Vélo Cité corridor (CVC), a.k.a. a bicycle highway and express route, set to establish a suburban cycling link between the borough of Charlesbourg and the city center.

Direct cycling routes like this one are key to promote and increase commuting by bicycle.

Quebec’s largest city Montreal has made good use of the concept of express cycling routes with its EBN Network, a 191-kilometre bike lane project that connects different points of interest in the city, considered by most to be North America’s most bicycle friendly.

The project, designed by Gabriel Fain Architects Inc., is scheduled to commence in 2024 and unfold in phases until 2026. This pioneering CVC is designed to establish a direct and accessible year-round connection between the two regions, featuring facilities tailored to accommodate cyclists of all profiles in comfort and safety.

“We chose the Charlesbourg/City Center axis as the first official Vélo Cité corridor, because it corresponds to the axis with strong current and anticipated cycling potential in this sector,” said Pierre-Luc Lachance, VP of the executive committee responsible for transport. and mobility, Mr. Pierre-Luc Lachance. This is an important step in our vision of building a meshed, continuous and connected cycling network, thus promoting sustainable and inclusive mobility for all. “

The Vélo Cité corridors are a network, inspired by best international practices, that focuses “on safe routes for cyclists, which ensures better sharing of public roads in order to limit conflicts between modes of transport.” The networks, according to the city, will make it possible to accommodate a high number of cyclists in conditions attractive to all users, regardless of their age and abilities.

Quebec City cycling (photo: Stephane Audet, Destination Quebec)

The development plan outlines the goal of connecting Charlesbourg to Limoilou in 2024 and extending the link to the city center in 2025. The corridor, comprising six sections, will be gradually activated as work progresses, enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists through improved road-sharing measures.

“I am delighted to see this first Vélocité corridor come to life on the outskirts and allow the citizens of the sector and more broadly, the entire population, to benefit from quality equipment,” underlined the president of the district of Charlesbourg, Mr. Claude Lavoie. We intend to gradually establish Vélocité corridors in order to serve the main mobility axes in the City’s territory. “

Project Highlights:

• The Charlesbourg/Centre-ville CVC will consist of six sections, including two branches in the Charlesbourg sector (see map in the appendix).
• The corridor’s length will be 6.7 km from north to south via the east antenna (3rd Avenue East), with an additional 2.3 km for the west antenna (3rd Avenue West).
• It will incorporate existing cycle links, which will be upgraded, along with the creation of new links.

Section Details:

1. Charlesbourg West Branch (3rd Avenue West and 52nd Street or 55th Street): Between 76th Street and 4th Avenue East (evolving project, completion in 2024).
2. Charlesbourg East Branch (3rd Avenue East): Between 79th Street and the Cheminots Corridor (evolving and permanent project, completed in 2025).
3. 4th Avenue: From 52nd Street to 22nd Street (evolving project carried out in 2023, enhanced in 2024, transformation into a permanent project in two phases in 2025 and 2026).
4. 4th Avenue or 3rd Avenue (consultation in January 2024): Between 22nd Street and Chemin de la Canardière (permanent project).
5. 3rd Avenue: Between Chemin de la Canardière and Rue du Prince-Édouard (permanent project, completed in 2025).
6. Rue du Pont: Between Rue du Prince-Édouard and Rue Saint-Vallier Est (evolving project, completion in 2024).

Citizens are encouraged to participate in the planning through ongoing consultation processes. Questionnaires and information sessions are available online for various sections of the route, allowing citizens to voice their opinions and contribute to the project’s success.