Projects
Accessibility program
The Accessibility program aims to improve the physical accessibility of the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) métro infrastructure, facilitate vertical travel, customer loyalty and improve customer service. In addition, this improvement should help promote the transfer of part of the paratransit clientele to the regular network. By 2025, 30 stations should have been made accessible.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Broader reliance on public transit through the regular network, which will reduce travel-related airborne emissions.
- A diversion rate of at least 75% of construction, renovation and demolition waste.
- LED lighting for the new entrance.
- Limitation of heat islands by means of exterior layouts that can maximize greening with low-maintenance species.
- The creation of a green roof is contemplated when new entrances must be built.
Main social benefits
- Public transit is made accessible to the greatest number of users, especially passengers with functional limitations, the elderly and families with young children travelling with strollers.
- Commitments by STM stakeholders:
- Consider the needs of passengers with functional limitations expressed in recent years.
- Evaluate social acceptability by means of feasibility studies.
- Adopt mitigation measures during the work to limit nuisance for the clientele, residents and vehicle traffic.
Bellechasse bus garage (LEED)
The Bellechasse bus garage will be the STM’s first garage designed to accommodate a fleet of 100% electric buses. This new centre will thus contribute to the Québec government’s electrification plan.
This project, as part of the STM’s strategy to add 300 new air-conditioned hybrid buses to its fleet, announced in January 2018, will also allow an increase in the service offer.
In addition, the STM aims to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold level certification for this new building, one of the highest certifications in the industry, in order to meet sustainable development objectives.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Energy savings of more than 60% and reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of approximately 85% thanks to a high energy efficiency system.
- Reduction of heat islands thanks to significant greening, part of which will be accessible to the public.
- Reduction in drinking water consumption thanks to efficient equipment and the recycling of water from the bus wash.
- Maximized diversion rate from the landfilling of construction, renovation and demolition residues/waste.
Bus garage electrification program
The purchase of electric buses and hybrid biodiesel-electric buses is a key element in the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) strategy toward electrification. Based on projections, the STM should hold a fleet of vehicles comprised entirely of electric and/or hybrid vehicles from 2030 onwards.
The bus garage electrification project is an essential and necessary condition for the realization of the project of acquisition and operation of the electric bus fleet.
Benefits and main sustainability-related advantages
Benefits therefore include those related to the operation of electric buses.
The electrification project also has other sustainable development benefits, particularly in terms of:
- Energy efficiency:
- the chargers chosen will have a high efficiency (beyond 95%) in order to limit the release of heat in the garage,
- charging equipment will use a charge optimizing solution to reduce peak power and energy costs;
- Responsible procurement;
- Waste management.
East End of Montréal bus garage (LEED)
In accordance with the vision of its 2030 organizational strategic plan, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is planning the construction of a bus garage that will eventually be able to accommodate a fleet of 250 fully electric buses.
This new bus garage will allow the STM to continue electrifying its buses, and to increase the service offer, which will contribute to the modal shift from car to public transport.
In addition, the STM aims to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold level certification for this new building, one of the highest certifications in the industry, in order to meet sustainable development objectives.
The commissioning of this new bus garage is scheduled between 2030 and 2035 depending on the evolution of ridership and the electrification of the bus fleet.
Benefits
- Site revitalization and beautification of the adjacent residential area.
- Contribution to the economic and urban development vision of the Assomption Sud–Longue-Pointe sector.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Energy saving and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thanks to a high energy efficiency system.
- Reduction in drinking water consumption, thanks to efficient equipment and the recycling of water from the bus wash.
- Maximized diversion rate from the landfilling of construction, renovation and demolition residues/waste.
- Site development integrating green spaces and reducing heat islands.
Electric bus purchase project
The purchase of electric buses is a key element in the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) strategy toward electrification. According to projections, the STM should have a bus fleet entirely composed of electric vehicles by 2040.
Benefits
- The customers’ transit experience is greatly improved with the rollout of these buses, as they are quieter, more comfortable and provide air-conditioning.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Increase in the bus network’s passenger capacity with the addition and replacement of 716 electric or hybrid buses between 2019 and 2024 (their number should represent about 46% of the overall fleet by December 31, 2024).
- Increase in public electric-powered travel.
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per seat-kilometre from buses by 6.0% (from 33.0 g CO2 eq. in 2015 to 31.1 g CO2 eq. in 2025).
Montréal métro’s blue line extension
The Blue Line extension project includes:
- 5 new universally accessible métro stations, for a tunnel length of approximately 6 kilometres;
- 2 bus terminals and 1 park-and-ride lot with 1 200 spaces;
- 1 pedestrian tunnel providing a link to the new Pie-IX bus rapid transit (BRT);
- 1 pedestrian connection under Highway 25 to join the two access buildings of the Anjou station;
- Equipment and operational infrastructure:
- seven auxiliary structures containing equipment necessary for operation;
- a district post;
- a service centre for infrastructure maintenance;
- a métro garage.
The Project aims to obtain Envision recognition in sustainable development. Compliance with this framework makes it possible to reduce impacts on the environment during construction and operation of the extension of the blue line (consumption of resources, energy, water, reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, etc.) while maximizing the benefits for the environment and the community.
Benefits
- Improvement in mobility in the metropolitan region of Montréal.
- Promotion of sustainable mobility.
- Support for urban and economic development.
- Consolidation of the public transportation network.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Increase in the modal share by increasing its service offer and increasing ridership.
- Reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) per passenger-kilometre.
New AZUR métro cars project
The project involves the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) acquisition of 71 AZUR trains (639 cars), 38 of which are to replace the 1963 métro cars (MR-63), 7 of which are to replace the 1973 métro cars (MR-73) and 26 are additional métro cars. These new trains feature leading-edge design and technology. In addition to being powered 100% by hydroelectricity, these new cars, manufactured with 60% Canadian materials, will be 92.5% recyclable at the end of their useful life.
Benefits
- Improvement of the customers’ transit experience (quality of the information provided, comfort, ventilation, safety).
- Expected gains in train enhanced performance and reliability.
- Contribution to the métro’s universal accessibility.
- Major economic benefits for Québec.
Main sustainability-related advantages
Thanks to the AZUR cars, among other things, the STM aims to:
- reach 440 million public transit trips on its network by 2025;
- increase electric-powered travel on its network from 69.5% to 88.6% from 2015 to 2025;
- reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per passenger-kilometre by 6% between 2015 and 2025 (from 47.4 g of CO2 eq. in 2015 to 44.7 g of CO2 eq. in 2025);
- reclaim over 85% of the 8 200 tons of materials from the 333 MR-63 cars replaced;
- recycle the MR-73 cars (62 recycled cars and 1 car sold for a second life project).
Québec city Tramway
The Québec city tramway project is part of the government’s vision of public transit for the Québec city metropolitan region, as embodied in the Réseau express de la Capitale (REC), of which it is the backbone. It will also be integrated into the service offerings of the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC).
This project is part of the priorities of the governments of Québec and Canada with regards to sustainable mobility:
- Improved mobility.
- Reduction of air pollution.
- Stronger communities.
- Economic growth.
Among public transit users, 82% will improve their travel time. With the tramway, there will be 10 million additional trips using public transport per year. As soon as the tramway arrives, a 30% increase in public transit trips is expected.
Benefits
- Enhanced travel:
- Improvement in transportation offerings.
- Enhanced mobility and accessibility.
- Limitation of the deterioration of traffic conditions.
- Substantial positive economic spinoff for the city of Québec.
- An incentive for active transportation.
- Improved urban infrastructure.
- Contribution to quality of life through the redevelopment of public spaces and revegetation.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Reduction of 89 000 tonnes of CO2 by 2041, i.e., 15 years after the tramway is put into service.
- CO2 capture due to reforestation.
- Improved air quality.
- Mitigation of the heat island effect in urban environments.
Réno-Infrastructures Project
Réno-Infrastructures program is aimed at replacing or refurbishing the infrastructure related to the Montréal métro’s network while optimizing investments by using them as levers to improve the service quality and the financial and operational performance of the Montréal métro network.
The métro infrastructure includes all stations, tunnels, auxiliary structures, as well as garages and workshops.
As this project is essential to maintaining service to métro users, it is therefore closely linked to the AZUR métro car acquisition project, partly funded through Québec Green Bond issues.
Benefits
- Maintenance of the infrastructure’s condition and reliability.
- Maintenance of the métro network’s availability and safety.
- Improvement in universal accessibility.
- Restoration of several works of art.
- Upgrade of signage.
- Upgrade of infrastructure.
Réno-Systèmes Project
The Réno-Systèmes program aims to replace, construct or refurbish the Montréal métro’s network’s operational stationary equipment:
- Escalators, ventilation, elevators.
- Rail equipment and switches.
- Train control and power supply equipment.
- Telecommunications and operational control systems.
This program, like Réno-Infrastructures, aims to optimize investments by using them as levers to improve service quality and safety as well as the financial and operational performance of the Montréal métro’s network.
As this project is essential to maintaining service for métro users, it is therefore closely linked to the AZUR métro car acquisition project, partly funded through Québec Green Bond issues.
Benefits
- Improvement in the reliability, availability and safety of the métro network’s operational stationary equipment (fewer service outages).
- Improvement in communications with clients (public address system and visual).
- Improvement in response times in the event of a service outage and reduced occurrence of outages.
- Improvement in universal accessibility.
- Upgrade of systems and equipment.
Réseau express métropolitain
The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project is a fully automated, 100% electric metro transit system, made up of 67 km of dedicated rail lines in the Greater Montréal area. The REM, which more closely resembles a metro system than a commuter train, will serve high-frequency stations 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ultimately, the REM project will include four branches and 26 stations connecting downtown Montréal, the South Shore, the West Island, the North Shore and the airport, and will be connected to buses, two commuter train lines and three Montréal métro lines.
The progressive commissioning of the REM should continue in 2023‑2024.
Potential benefits
- Traffic congestion: Improve speed and traffic flow in highly congested sectors, reducing economic losses related to road congestion in the Greater Montréal area.
- Gross domestic product (GDP): Over $3.7 billion for Québec’s GDP.
- Sectors with high development potential: Close to $5 billion anticipated in private investments.
- Jobs: Creation of more than 34 000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase and more than 1 000 permanent jobs once the REM starts running.
- Productivity: Significant time savings for users.
Main sustainability-related advantages
- Increase in public transit use, and reduction in car use and the associated social costs.
- Decrease of nearly 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 25 years.
- Significant reduction in noise levels, adverse visual impacts, and air pollution linked to the passing of cars.
- Contribution to the electrification of transportation and improvement of the sector’s energy efficiency, in order to develop the economy and reduce GHG emissions.
- Contribution to the academic, professional and social integration of people with mobility impairments, thanks to universally accessible stations and cars.
