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

  • Social media a one-stop shop for travel information
    January 20, 2012
    Exponentially widening mobile phone ownership is opening up the field to new ways of obtaining and disseminating better travel information from and to public transport users, via for example social media and tracking riders' phones. Over 50 US transit agencies, including major actors such as TriMet, in the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Texas, and San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), as well as smaller operators, now have Facebook and/or Twitter accoun
    Read More
  • TransCore to develop bay area express lane network
    October 7, 2014
    TransCore is to develop, integrate, and maintain a network of express lanes on behalf of San Francisco’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA). The competitively procured US$54.6 million project will see 90 miles of existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) converted lanes into express lanes on I-680, I-880 and I-80. The aim is to improve connectivity by closing gaps in the existing HOV network and improve freeway efficiency by making the best use
    Read More
  • The inside story of how traffic chaos was avoided after I-95 collapse
    August 23, 2023
    June’s collapse of major US roadway I-95 in Pennsylvania could have caused lengthy traffic chaos. But - relatively speaking at least - it didn’t and gridlock was avoided. Alan Dron finds out why
    Read More
  • Impact of speed limits in Barcelona
    January 20, 2012
    When Barcelona imposed an 80km/h (50mph), the result was significant in environmental, accident, fatality and injury terms. The 80km/h speed limit had the same positive environmental effect as if 22,100 cars were eliminated from the roads in the metropolitan area. Moreover, a reduction in the consumption of fuel by more than 24,000 tonnes per year was also achieved, while accidents, fatalities and injuries also showed substantial improvement.
    Read More

Highlighted Content