Montréal’s Transportation Plan

The Ville de Montréal has undertaken the development of a Plan de transport (Transportation Plan), which it expects to approve in 2005. The Transportation Plan will support the Master Plan's orientations, particularly in its emphasis on public transportation and the development of Montréal as a transportation hub.

This Transportation Plan will include a Plan d'action vélo (Cycling Action Plan), a Plan de camionnage (Truck Route Plan) and a Politique de stationnement (Parking Policy), through which the Transportation Plan will set targets for reducing the number of parking spaces, particularly in the Centre. In concert with the STM, it will establish quantifiable goals for increasing the market share of public transit. It is important to note that a new financial framework must be defined in order to enable the investments necessary to precipitate these changes.

Maintenance of Public Transportation Infrastructure

By 2013, an estimated investment of more than 2.3 billion dollars will be required in order to renovate and replace the metro's fixed assets and cars. Some 660 million dollars will be necessary to upgrade the Société de Transport de Montréal's (STM) fleet of 1,600 buses.

Another estimated 380 million dollars per year will be required over a ten-year period in order to restore and maintain the municipal road network, bridges, tunnels and other assets (bikeways, traffic lights).

Montréal’s Key Players in Transportation

Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ)

The MTQ ensures the mobility of passengers and freight through efficient and safe transportation networks that contribute to the sustainable economic and social development of Québec. The MTQ plans, designs, constructs and finances transportation infrastructure and systems, particularly expressways and public transportation networks.

The Plan de gestion des déplacements 2000 (Trip Management Plan 2000) portrayed a vision of transportation development in the Montréal metropolitan area and proposed orientations and solutions to meet the travel needs of passengers and freight.

Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT)

The AMT is a government agency whose mission is to improve the efficiency of the movement of people in the metropolitan area and to increase public transportation ridership.

The AMT manages and funds the metropolitan commuter train network (consisting of 5 lines), park-and-ride centres, reserved bus lanes and bus terminals. It also looks after the planning, coordination, integration and promotion of public transportation services.

Its annual Strategic Plan details its priorities, objectives, actions and budget for the year ahead, together with performance indicators and a three-year capital expenditure program.

Société de transport de Montréal (STM)

The STM organizes public transportation for people within Montréal's boundaries. It manages the metro (consisting of 4 lines and 65 stations) and bus (consisting of 173 routes) networks while contributing to the development and promotion of public transportation. The STM has adopted a Plan stratégique de développement du transport collectif 2004-2013 (2004-13 Strategic Plan for Public Transportation Development) as well as a Plan d'affaires quinquennal 2004-2008 (2004-08 Five-Year Business Plan).

2.2

Structuring, efficient transportation networks fully integrated into the urban fabric

Montréal’s Transportation Plan

Maintenance of Public Transportation Infrastructure

Montréal’s Key Players in Transportation

The Master Plan recognizes transportation networks as fundamental components of the City’s spatial organization. Accordingly, the Plan emphasizes the consolidation of the various districts of Montréal that are already served by major transportation networks. The Plan also recommends improving certain areas of the City that require a different approach in light of the complexity of their planning challenges. The Plan identifies these areas as requiring a detailed planning process (see Chapter 4). Given the decisive role of transportation networks in influencing urban form, many of these Detailed Planning Areas require major interventions in terms of public transportation and road work.

In keeping with its planning approach, the Plan supports the preservation and optimal use of existing transportation networks and consequently calls for more intensive and strategic land uses, with a greater emphasis on public transportation, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The City strongly supports public transportation and considers it to be Montréal’s transportation mode for the future.

The Ville de Montréal emphasizes the importance of keeping existing transportation networks in good condition and improving their efficiency. Substantial investments both by the Government of Québec and the City will be required, either for their maintenance or development. The Ville de Montréal supports the proposal that a portion of the gas taxes collected by the federal government be reserved in a special fund earmarked for transit improvements in Canadian cities. Similarly, it would be appropriate for the Québec government to rethink its priorities and to use grants from the federal government's Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund for public transportation instead of road building.

In addition, by promoting more complete and diversified living environments, the Plan also encourages travel by foot and bicycle, in accordance with an urban planning approach that is sensitive to the requirements of a healthy environment.

The Plan confirms Montréal’s role as a freight transportation hub. Accordingly, the City favours the consolidation of existing infrastructure.

The Master Plan proposes two objectives for the movement of passengers and freight:

Consolidate and develop Montréal’s territory in relation to existing and planned transportation networks;


		See this objective

Confirm the strategic function of freight transportation through the consolidation of existing infrastructure.


		See this objective