My Alerts The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is unveiling its three-year capital expenditures program (PTI), in which its investment spending forecasts for 2015-2017, evaluated at nearly $2.5 billion, are outlined. These investments are needed to replace or upgrade equipment and infrastructure that have or will reach the end of their service life in the next few years, including métro cars.
Montréal, November 7, 2014 – The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is unveiling its three-year capital expenditures program (PTI), in which its investment spending forecasts for 2015-2017, evaluated at nearly $2.5 billion, are outlined. These investments are needed to replace or upgrade equipment and infrastructure that have or will reach the end of their service life in the next few years, including métro cars.
« The PTI details 46 projects, 12 of which represent 94% of investments, for a total of more than $2.3 billion. A number of these projects will have a direct impact on improving transportation for our customers. For the métro, it means the acquisition of 468 new AZUR cars, the major refurbish and refit of the Youville minor repairs shop, the development and commissioning of métro driving cab simulators, the raising of train platforms inside stations slated for elevators, the ongoing Réno-Métro umbrella program that includes both Réno-Systèmes and Réno-Infrastructures programs, and the major refurbishment of Berri-UQAM station initiated in 2010. For the bus network, the main projects involve the deployment of iBus, a smart operating system, the complete rebuilding of the Complexe Crémazie maintenance plant, the acquisition of buses and the implementation of bus priority measures (MPB) that will improve the flow of passenger transportation, » declared STM board chairman, Philippe Schnobb.
In order to reach its objectives for growth, the STM will focus nearly 50% of its investments on the replacement and expansion of its bus and métro rolling stocks, in the amount of $.1.3 billion. Indeed, from 2015 to 2017, it will spend some one billion dollars to acquire AZUR métro cars and 163 million dollars to purchase 115 hybrid drive buses.
Over the next three years, the company will invest $660 million for machinery, métro stationary equipment and other tools and equipment. Nearly 80% of that sum is earmarked for Phases III and IV of the Réno-Systèmes program that reconditions or replaces stationary equipment, mostly within the initial network that went into operation already 48 years ago. The $106 million balance will mainly be used for iBus, the real-time fleet management and passenger information system.
The STM will put $537 million toward maintaining its real estate assets and modifying its infrastructure in order to integrate the new rolling stock. Of that amount, some $196 million will serve to refurbish métro stations, as part of Phases I and II of the Réno-Infrastructures program, and $54 million for Berri-UQAM’s major renovation. For the bus network, $96 million will be invested in rebuilding and maintaining the Complexe Crémazie plant. Also, the STM plans on deploying bus preferential measures along more roadways, such as reserved lanes and priority traffic signals, for a total of $81 million, expanding the reserved lanes network to 375 km by 2017 in time for Montréal’s 375th anniversary.
The governments of Québec and Canada along with the Montréal Urban Agglomeration will finance 75% of the STM’s investment spending, or more than $1.9 billion. The MTQ’s share is at 63%, while the federal government will cover 10%. The STM will almost entirely finance the difference, at 25%, for a total of $612 million.
The STM recently announced it has opted to extend the service life of MR-73 rolling stock to 60 years. The discussions leading to this decision were based on a 2012 report by Imperial College London ("Rolling Stock Replacement vs Refurbishment"), which mentions the growing number of world-class public transit authorities choosing to refurbish their subway cars to extend their useful life. The report recommends giving serious consideration to this option for rolling stock with a solid track record for reliability, such as the MR-73s.
« Public transportation makes tangible contributions to Québec and Montréal’s economic growth by generating wealth and making urban centres more competitive. In that regard, important discussions must be undertaken by all concerned parties to identify new funding sources for public transit, » concluded Mr. Schnobb.
The Capital expenditures program (PTI) is available (in French only) on the STM website
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Isabelle A. Tremblay
Direction principale – Affaires publiques
Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
514 280-4940
isabelle.tremblay@stm.info
