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The intersection of Boulevard Cartier and Boulevard des Laurentides has came to be as a result of pragmatic necessity of transit routes. Several bus routes out of Laval Terminal pass through this intersection enroute to most areas of Laval. This crossing is a point of dispersion of traffic flow, as well as economic flow .

The commercial activity of the two boulevards converges into a strip mall at the corner with an adjacent casino. On the opposite side of Boulevard des Laurentides are the municipal hall and other municipal services. Although there is residential, commercial and institutional zoning surrounding the site, it is presently zoned as park land. This would of course be altered in the process of realizing the project.

The proposed site is situated in a park that stretches nearly one kilometer from the intersection of the two boulevards to the west along boulevard Cartier. Along this stretch there are many recreational facilities and their is also a highschool in close proximity.

Presently, the immediate site of the proposed station is used for open recreation space with a low-income residential neighborhood to the south and the community recreation centre to the west that is an indoor base for all of the outdoor activities.

CEGEP Montmorency is in close proximity to much of the urban activity of Laval. Many bus routes pass through this area to provide access to the school, and also Centre Laval along Aoutroute des Laurentides.The present zoning of the potential area in which the station my be situated is entirely institutional.

There is a great deal of open brownlands near Montmorency that are awaiting development. Currently, on the opposite side of Boulevard de l'Avenir there is a highschool being constructed that will also be affected by the metro line extension.

The residential area adjacent to Montmorency is of medium density and is constituted by mostly family dwellings. As the institutional and commercial developments proceed the residential component will follow and the proposed metro station will undoubtedly be utilzed to full capacity.

The City of Laval is comprised of fourteen urban centres that are a mix of residential, commercial and industrial activity. The city is considered part of the greater island of Montreal but it is seperated by Riviere des Prairies. And the North Shore of Montreal is also separated from Laval by Riviere des Mille-Iles.

A large percentage of the city is covered by infrastructure connecting the many centres. Some of these centres are well established and offer a sense of community to those dwelling their. However, the desolate brownlands inbetween these centres have been left vulnerable to big box developments and strip malls. Evidently, the connection of these centres via infrastructure does not suffice in considering Laval as a city in a traditional sense. There are no civic places that bring people together from the city as a collective. In this regard, it feels as though Laval lacks a collective identity.

There are 9 bridges connecting the island of Montreal and Laval, two of which are strictly AMT train lines. Pont Viau is in close proximity to the first proposed station at Boulevard Cartier and Boulevard des Laurentides. On the Montreal side of the bridge, the area surrounding Metro Henri-Bourassa, is an established community with a mix of residential, commercial, and institutional activity. There is a definite sense of community in this area and it is a rather desirable area to live or work and as a result, the utilization of Henri-Bourassa station is high. Both Henri-Bourassa Terminal and Laval Terminal are also located at the station servicing the local community and those comuting greater distances accordingly. On the Laval side of the river, is the Pont Viau centre which is also an older community, but perhaps less desirable, on qualitative terms, as a place of dwelling.

The older residential area is comprised of low to mid-income housing and the prominent commercial development is along Boulevard Cartier and Boulevard des Laurentides. This development has tended towards stripmall-like building types and the two roads converge at the edge of a park, also adjacent to all of the municipal services for the centre. This intersection is also adjacent to the location of the proposed Cartier Metro Station.

With all of the ammenities in close proximatey to the Cartier site, it is apparent that it is a strategic location for the community. And its connection to the Henri-Bourassa station the flow of people and economy in this vacinity will be further increased. The potential of the site requires something more than just a Metro station. Perhaps a civic centre, where the community can gather. All of the elements are already there but there is nothing currently binding them.

This area is developing more quickly than that of Cartier and even with the present density will require a station of greater capacity. Similar to Cartier, this area is also lacking in regards to the notion of a sense of place. Montmorency and Centre Laval fill the area with people during the day but at night everyone retreats to their own neighborhood. And there is no sense of community in a broader scope.