Montréal City Hall invested $12-million between 2022 and 2024 to open the streets in front of 2,100 local businesses: “The boroughs, business owners, residents, customers, passers-by, and tourists appreciate the quality of life offered by pedestrianization projects.” - Mayor Valérie Plante.
Ultimately, these car-free streets are built on the recognition that shopping districts can either attract cars or people. They can’t successfully do both. And in an age of online retail, these brick-and-mortar businesses realize that they really can’t compete on expedience—so they must compete on experience.