On January 10, the Ville de Montréal announced the locations selected for its Programme de sécurisation aux abords des écoles (school zone safety program) for 2023. The aim of the program is to encourage young people to walk or cycle by improving safety.

The improvements planned for the four selected schools in the borough consist of planted curb extensions at nearby intersections.

Among other things, curb extensions:

• Reduce the length of the pedestrian crossing
• Increase visibility at intersections
• Modify drivers’ behaviour by reducing speed
• Improve the safety of vulnerable people (pedestrians, schoolchildren and people with reduced mobility)
• Make the neighbourhood greener and help reduce heat islands

The four schools targeted for safer intersections are:

• École Félix Leclerc (Darlington/Brighton intersection)
• École Judith-Jasmin (Somerled/Mariette intersection)
• Willingdon Elementary School Senior Campus (Somerled/Coronation intersection)
• École Sainte-Catherine-de-Sienne (Somerled/Saint-Ignatius intersection)

Furthermore, through a second program, the Programme d’aménagement de rues artérielles (arterial roads improvement program), the borough will build curb extensions at the following intersections with traffic lights, which are also located near schools:

• École Petit-Chapiteau (Victoria/Plamondon intersection)
• École des Nations (Victoria/Barclay intersection)

Barring unforeseen circumstances resulting in the cancellation and/or postponement of these projects, they are planned for 2023.