As of May 6 at the Jean-Talon station. Addition of three elevators to improve universal accessibility

Press release

Montréal, May 2, 2013   – The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is taking another step forward in promoting universal accessibility on its métro network. In fact, as of May 6, for a period of 17 months, work will be carried out at the Jean-Talon station to equip it with three elevators, thus optimizing travel for clients with functional limitations.

The entrance located at 430 Jean-Talon, which will welcome the first elevator linking the street level to the mezzanine level, will be closed until next December. This closure will have a minor impact on client travel, as six other entrances are available to access the station platforms. The STM suggests that clients use the entrance at 522 Jean-Talon located a few metres away from the entrance being renovated. No bus stops will be moved, and no hindrance to traffic circulation is anticipated.

The entrance building will be expanded primarily towards Saint-Vallier Street into the adjacent parking area. Its height will also be extended. Clients will have a better view of the surrounding neighbourhood thanks to a major increase in window space on three of four sides of the building.

The Jean-Talon station welcomed more than 5 million passengers in 2012 and is among the four stations targeted for the installation of elevators between now and 2015 as part of the 2012-2015 Universal Accessibility Plan. These stations have been selected based on evaluation criteria set out by the Comité sur l’accessibilité du métro de Montréal such as ridership, intermodality, equitable distribution across the territory in relation to other projects and the neighbourhood around the stations (hospitals, schools, tourism, culture, etc.).

Finally, it should be noted that this work is being carried out under the Réno-Systèmes program, a financial partnership between the Ministère des Transports du Québec and the STM.

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The Chairman of the STM’s Board of Directors, Mr. Michel Labrecque, accompanied by two other Board members, Mme Elsie Lefebvre, borough councillor for Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension (on the left), and Mme Marie Turcotte, representative for paratransit users, launches the elevator installation work at the Jean-Talon station.