Smoother, more reliable and more efficient: The STM presents its 2021-2025 reserved lanes network vision

Press release

In the usual order, Mr. Luc Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of the STM, M. Philippe Schnobb, Chair of the STM Board of Directors, Mme Valérie Plante, Montréal mayor Valérie Plante, and M. Eric Alan Caldwell, City of Montréal executive committee member responsible for mobility- Photo credit : Louis-Étienne Doré, photographer

Montréal, August 31, 2021 – The Société de transport de Montréal (STM), in partnership with the City of Montréal, is pleased to present its 2025 reserved lanes vision. Based on a joint approach by planning experts, this vision will lead to a series of measures for improving bus service in critical corridors on the Island of Montreal over the coming years.

“Mouvement bus is about providing Montrealers with city-wide access to fast, frequent and efficient transportation services within walking distance of their homes and workplaces,” says Montréal mayor Valérie Plante. “This strategy, which involves increasing the number of buses, reserved lanes and priority measures, will ensure smoother, faster and more reliable travel by 2025. To support our ecological transition and help revitalize the city, it is our responsibility to offer greener, more efficient travel options, and our reserved lanes vision does just that.”

“It is clear that Montrealers are keen about public transit,” says Eric Alan Caldwell, City of Montréal executive committee member responsible for mobility. “It is our responsibility as an administration to consistently improve our public transit services. By focusing on six busy corridors, we will ensure that 270,000 trips per day are faster, helping customers who travel to various employment hubs outside downtown to save time and money. These reserved lanes will also make it possible to implement mitigation measures for major infrastructure work in the future, thereby allowing public transit to retain its priority status. Additionally, these lanes will support the métro network as well as major transportation and urban development projects in the future.”

“The proposed reserved lane network will allow for more efficient bus connections,” adds Philippe Schnobb, Chair of the STM Board of Directors. “This is something our customers will greatly appreciate, particularly when travelling to employment hubs and booming sectors outside the downtown area. As many Montrealers return to work, these reserved lanes for buses will complement the current and future connections at métro stations and along the REM and Pie-IX BRT networks, offering customers even more travel options. Our bold long-term goal is to increase the share of customers using a reserved lane from 24 to 70 percent. This will provide more people with a better riding experience.”

A two-part action plan

Regular network enhancement

The STM will continue to improve the existing network by adding new reserved lanes and measures as needed. These include priority “candlestick” traffic lights with real-time detection in key sectors during peak periods. Specifically, the focus will be on implementing reserved lanes in critical corridors to support employment sectors and development sectors, reduce crowding on buses and support mitigation measures during major construction work.

Implementation of specific measures in structured critical corridors

This action plan will make it possible to put forward, at the same time, new measures for structured corridors over the next few years. These measures, which will evolve over time, could include not only the implementation of reserved lanes with extended off-peak hours but also the eventual development of bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure. This network will complement the métro network as well as major transportation and urban development projects in the future. These projects could include:

  • Reserved lanes for exclusive right-of-way, operating 24/7
  • A review of the stops and distinct visual branding for stations
  • Distinctive road markings (coloured ground markings for certain sections)
  • Specific layouts for stops

Working toward an efficient, well-structured bus network

STM’s planning experts will use their planning tools to determine which corridors would benefit most from reserved lanes. Thanks to these measures, it is possible to determine the potential time savings for each corridor, its integration into the major redesign of the network, the potential impact on the environment and its integration into major projects.

The implementation of a strong, reliable and structured network of reserved lanes is part of a comprehensive vision for all bus travel in Montréal. Referred to as Mouvement bus, this vision encompasses initiatives and major projects that aim to improve the bus network and the customer experience.

Luc Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of the STM, states in conclusion, “Marking the 160th anniversary of the arrival of public transit in Montréal, Mouvement bus will consist of a network of new reserved lanes, bus electrification, the arrival of 300 new buses and the ongoing bus redesign. It reflects our commitment to improve the customer experience by making travel smoother, on-time and more reliable and efficient. Additionally, it will ensure cohesion between the various major structuring projects currently underway or scheduled for the future. Now that we have passed the milestone of 100 years of bus services in Montréal, we can enthusiastically say that Mouvement bus is propelling us into a new era!”

For more information about Mouvement bus

For more information about reserved lanes

-30-

medias@stm.info

Catherine Cadotte
Attachée de presse de la mairesse
Cabinet de la mairesse de Montréal et du comité exécutif
514 465-2591
catherine.cadotte@montreal.ca