Integrated transport network proposed for Montréal

DPQ Infra, a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, has unveiled for its Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM), an integrated public transportation project. Under the proposal, the REM will link downtown Montréal, the South Shore, the West Island (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), the North Shore (Deux-Montagnes) and the airport in a unified, fully automated, 67km light rail transit (LRT) system comprising 24 stations and operating 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. The solution proposed by CDPQ Infra wi
April 25, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, has unveiled for its Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM), an integrated public transportation project.

Under the proposal, the REM will link downtown Montréal, the South Shore, the West Island (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), the North Shore (Deux-Montagnes) and the airport in a unified, fully automated, 67km light rail transit (LRT) system comprising 24 stations and operating 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The solution proposed by CDPQ Infra will constitute Québec’s first public-public partnership project, build a new network of strategic importance for the Greater Montréal area and Québec, while fostering environmentally sustainable transportation.

As a single, integrated transportation network, the REM will offer a number of efficient travel options in the Greater Montréal area. Connections between the new network and existing bus, metro and train systems have also been designed to simplify itineraries.

New stations will be integrated into their urban environment and designed to allow easy access for pedestrians, bicycles, cars and buses. All stations will be covered, climate-controlled, equipped with elevators, and will meet the principles of universal access.
In addition, by choosing the Highway 40 route to the West Island, the project allows for the creation of a dedicated corridor for public transportation, without the need to share tracks with freight trains.

The new network represents an investment of approximately US$4.3 billion. La Caisse is willing to commit US$2.4 billion to the project. The proposed financial structure also requires investments by the governments of Québec and Canada; the decision to move forward with the project is conditional upon this investment.

“Today we are proposing an innovative public transit solution that will improve the quality of life in Montréal and deliver important economic, social and environmental benefits. It will improve the metropolitan region’s overall competitiveness,” said Michael Sabia, president and chief executive officer of la Caisse. “The new transit system will also deliver long-term, stable investment returns very well aligned with the needs of our depositors, the people of Québec.”

Related Content

  • Ex-USDoT bosses urge Congress to reauthorise Fast 
    March 25, 2020
    The Metropolitan Civic Leadership Alliance is calling on US Congress to reauthorise the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (Fast) Act which is set to expire this autumn. 
    Read More
  • Delivering accurate bus information
    July 27, 2012
    John C. Toone, King County Metro, describes the transition to an IntelliDrive-led approach to communication and information sharing in line with the introduction of a new bus rapid transit service. King County Metro (KC Metro), which serves Seattle, Bellevue and over 20 suburban towns, has been active in the development of intelligent transportation systems for many years. It has operated a signpost-based AVL system for more than a decade and has used this to provide bus location information to the public o
    Read More
  • Brazil to invest US$16 billion in Río Olympics
    April 23, 2014
    Officials in Brazil have estimated the total cost of infrastructure and works related to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero to be US$16.3, with 60 per cent of the funds coming from private investors. Some US$2.5 billion of the overall budget would be spent on projects exclusively directed to the event, Agência Brasil reports. Río de Janeiro city itself will invest US$6.3 billion in fourteen projects, including light rail transit and bus rapid transit projects, as well as drainage works in the
    Read More
  • Development banks pledge US$175 billion for clean transport
    June 21, 2012
    Eight of the world’s largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) banks yesterday pledged to invest US$175 billion over the next 10 years to support sustainable transport in developing countries. The pledge was made at the UN Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20) by the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, CAF- Development Bank of Latin America, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Islamic Developme
    Read More

Highlighted Content