The STM introduces the 26 – Mercier Est bus line

Press release

Montréal, October 13, 2011 –  The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) announces a new bus line offering local service in the Mercier-East sector of the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, and direct access to Montreal-East beginning November 14.

« The introduction of this new line is an example of how our network and services adapt to the specific needs in targeted areas, such as new residential developments, while providing communities with local service. Mercier-East residents will enjoy better access within their area and to major centres of activity along with direct access to the Honoré-Beaugrand and Radisson metro stations on the green line. The new 26 bus line will appeal to current and future transit users with less transfers especially for Mercier-East residents traveling to Place Versailles, or for Anjou residents who travel to their CLSC (Mercier-East and Anjou)», comments Mr. Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the STM Board of Directors.

This initiative is part of the service improvement plan financed in equal measure by the Quebec government and the city of Montreal. The introduction of the 26 –Mercier-Est bus line is a collaborative effort of the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Montreal-East boroughs along with Solidarité Mercier-Est, a local community group.

«The new Faubourg Contrecoeur project will feature, upon completion, more than 1850 residential units. Among these, 555 units are designated to meet affordable housing and social needs. Businesses and office space are also planned to be included in this project complex. More than 4500 persons are expected to reside, work, and live here. In this context, the introduction of the 26 bus line is a welcome addition that allows us to better serve the needs of this new community » comments Mr. Réal Ménard, mayor of the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.

« All of our citizens living in the western part of the city are thrilled with this new bus line that will allow for better access to targeted areas while ensuring direct access to the Radisson metro station without having to transfer, a real time-saver for transit users. More work needs to be done to improve public transit in our area, but I am confident that our collaboration with the STM will continue to grow » adds Mr. Robert Coutu, mayor of Montreal-East.

The 26 Mercier-Est bus line will be in service from Monday to Friday from 5 :30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (every 15 minutes at rush hour and 25 minutes off rush ,hour). The itinerary links the Faubourg Contrecoeur project, the southern area known as the Quartier Vert de Mercier –Est, Hochelaga Street its main commercial center, and other centres of activity such as Place Versailles, the Honoré-Beaugrand and Radisson metro stations, and the Mercier-Est and Anjou CLSC.

«At Solidarité-Mercier-Est, we are quite aware that it can be difficult to reconcile everyone’s needs within public transit projects. However, we are quite happy to learn that service to our area will be increased in the very near future in the Mercier-Est sector, and particularly within the Contrecoeur project » remarks Fabienne Audette, a member of Solidarité Mercier-Est advisory group.

Essentially these improvements represent an approximate increase of 15 000 hours of service per year, requiring the addition of three buses.

For information regarding travel, customers may contact STM-INFO (524-786-4636), consult the network map or the STM website at www.stm.info containing a wealth of useful information.

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