New innovative design for STM’s Bellechasse bus garage: the first underground bus garage in North America

Press release

Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal, Philippe Schnobb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STM, and François William Croteau, Mayor of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough, have unveiled the brand-new innovative design of the future Bellechasse bus garage, which will include a large public space. The $254 million project also involves a citizen participatory process beginning in early 2019.

“I’m delighted to be part of the  unveiling of the brand-new design of the Bellechasse bus garage in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie. This garage will house a significant portion of our 300 hybrid buses in a design that blends into the neighbourhood more than ever before,” says Mayor Valérie Plante.


“We are very proud to present this new underground garage design, making it the first of its kind in North America. The garage’s construction is again proof of the acceleration of our 2025 Strategic Organizational Plan, which will also enable us to achieve our goal of acquiring only electric buses as of 2025. Not to mention the new garage’s seamless integration into  its environment,” says Mr. Schnobb.

“Our borough has always worked with the STM to develop a neighbourhood-friendly design that would address the concerns of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie residents. The design unveiled today shows that we listened to the residents. And we will continue to listen during the citizen participatory process, which will start in early 2019, to find out what residents want for the large green space,” says Mr. Croteau.

New design

Located on the block formed by Bellechasse Street, De Gaspé Avenue, Marmier Street and Saint-Dominique Street, the new design, developed in collaboration with architecture firm Lemay, offers the following features:

  • A ring-shaped administrative building, including an interior courtyard designed for employees
  • A three-level underground garage, comprising one level for bus parking, one for electrical infrastructure and one for maintenance workshops, with several skylights
  • A large green space accessible to the public
  • 100% bus circulation inside the garage to minimize the impact on the neighbourhood
  • The first bus garage designed to house electric buses — 100% in the long-term

This design will make the Bellechasse bus garage the first multi-level bus garage in Canada and the first underground bus garage in North America.

Work must begin in spring 2019 for the bus garage to be up and running in January 2022. The construction of this bus garage is necessary due to the age of the Saint-Denis bus garage, which will be demolished when the work is completed.


Citizen participation

In early 2019, the STM will introduce a participatory process to integrate the community’s vision into the project’s design. Details will be available on the project’s website: www.stm.info/bellechasse

The Bellechasse bus garage construction project is made possible thanks to funding from the governments of Canada and Quebec.

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Information:

Amélie Régis
Public Affairs, STM
514-350-0800, ext. 85508
amelie.regis@stm.info or medias@stm.info


Geneviève Jutras
Press Secretary
514-243-1268 or genevieve.jutras@ville.montreal.qc.ca