Mobility Montréal partners presented the second phase of the mitigation measures related to the work on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).

The implementation of the new service offer is now possible with the faster construction of bus bypass shoulders on several strategic autoroute sections.

Over the last months, Mobility Montréal partners made every effort to prepare mitigation measures for easier access to downtown Montréal. The objective was to implement efficient and competitive solutions in terms of travel time, and to offer several route options to public transit users.

Improved service will be offered as of November 2, 2020. There will be a transition period during which the train and the new bus shuttle will both run. Deux-Montagnes line users will have the opportunity to test the different routes to determine the route they prefer before the train shuttle service is discontinued as of December 31, 2020.

The new measures include the following:

  • construction of bus bypass shoulders on autoroutes 640, 13, 15 and 25, and use of the new reserved lane of autoroute 20 in the Turcot interchange;
  • shuttle 404, between the Deux-Montagnes station and downtown, being the main access downtown during rush hours. This shuttle has been running during extended hours since its implementation and will remain available at all times, including evenings and weekends;
  • two new bus shuttles during rush hours:
    • line 499 from the Deux-Montagnes station to the Côte-Vertu metro (for users going to the Saint-Laurent borough);
    • line 498 of the Saint-Eustache terminal, in Montréal downtown, with a stop at the Sainte-Dorothée train station;
  • optimization of the shuttle 968 — Trainbus Roxboro/Côte-Vertu service, with only three stops: Roxboro-Pierrefonds station, Sunnybrooke station and Côte-Vertu metro;
  • change in fares in order for zone 3 users to be able to buy the TRAMREM transit fare for $88.50. This transit fare gives access to all transportation modes in zones 1, 2 and 3, including the metro from the Montmorency station, in Laval.

These new measures are in addition to the current service offered on the North Shore and the island of Montréal.

For Mascouche line users, the current service is maintained.

Citations

[Translation] “At my request, all Mobility Montréal partners invested a great deal of efforts to provide users affected by the interruption of the rail shuttle service the most direct route to downtown and the metro. The construction of bus bypass shoulders on strategic roads will allow buses to bypass congestion. This will cut travel times for thousands of users. By prioritizing bus services, we better meet the needs expressed by the users of the Deux-Montagnes line. Our government is listening to users, which makes it now possible to present a plan to optimize travel time. This will make solo car use less competitive than using public transit.”

Chantal Rouleau, Minister for Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region

[Translation] “The mitigation strategy from public transit partners was designed in such a way that it can integrate the new available resources to improve travel options as the REM work progresses. I would like to applaud the joint efforts from exo, the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL), the Société de transport de Laval (STL) and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), as well as the involvement of the gouvernement du Québec, CDPQ Infra and Mobility Montréal. Each one of us is committed to providing the best possible service to users.”

Benoit Gendron, Director General — Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain

Reminder

  • The temporary public transit network represents an investment of $192M from the gouvernement du Québec and CDPQ Infra.
  • The work to create the park-and-ride lot of avenue des Bois and the shoulders on avenue des Bois, autoroute 440 eastbound and boulevard Chomedey, in Laval, will continue until spring 2021. The work will make travel easier for users from Laval.

Related links and documents