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Relocation of the reserved lane, along with the addition of a reserved time during the afternoon peak period
Montréal, July 4, 2025 – The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough announces the relocation of the reserved lane on Rue Papineau, along with the addition of a reserved time during the afternoon peak period, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Customers will be able to use this new reserved lane section starting today.
The reserved lane for buses, taxis and bicycles will be relocated to the edge, with ground marking and signage between Rue Rachel and Rue Sherbrooke. It will now be in effect Monday to Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. during the morning peak, and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the afternoon peak.
“The expected benefits of this new reserved lane section along this key transportation corridor in Montréal include better service for public transit customers in the area, with more than 12,000 trips during peak hours. During peak periods, buses on the 45 – Papineau high-frequency line and the 445 – Papineau express line (mornings only) will run on this reserved lane. This reserved lane section for buses, taxis and bicycles will facilitate smooth and reliable service on in Plateau-Mont-Royal,” said Éric Alan Caldwell, chair of the STM board of directors.
“This upgrade to the Papineau reserved lane is a concrete step towards faster, more reliable and more attractive public transit. In Plateau-Mont-Royal, we’re making a clear choice to prioritize sustainable travel and support the thousands of citizens who choose the bus every day. This impactful initiative is part of our vision for a more equitable and efficient city,” explained Luc Rabouin, mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.
The following sections along the Papineau route are reserved lanes:
Southbound, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.:
- Fleury to Charland (bus, taxi)
- Louvain to Jacques-Casault (bus, bicycle, taxi)
- Jarry to Sherbrooke (bus, bicycle, taxi)
Northbound, between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.:
- Rachel to Jarry (bus, bicycle, taxi)
- Barnabé-Larocque to Leuven (bus, bicycle, taxi)
- Louvain to Prieur (bus, taxi)
About bus preferential measures
Bus preferential measures (BPMs) consist of road network features that give priority to public transit, thereby improving service speed and timeliness. BPMs, which include reserved lanes and priority traffic lights for buses, result in considerably shorter travel times.
To learn more about the reserved lane network.