3.2
Promote urban development that favours the use of public transportation
In order to increase the use of public transportation and reduce automobile use, it is important to promote an appropriate form of urban development, while improving the availability of public transit.
There is a direct relationship between urban density and mixed uses on the one hand and the use of public transportation on the other. Dense, diversified neighbourhoods are home to a larger number of potential public transportation users and contribute to a reduction in the length of certain trips.
Historically, several commuter train stations have contributed to the development of Montréal's living environments. With the development of the metro network and the construction of new stations, the original structuring effect of stations was progressively eroded in favour of the purely functional role of providing access to networks or modal transfer.
The City recommends increasing the intensity and diversity of urban activities, particularly in the vicinity of metro and commuter train stations and major public transportation corridors that offer potential for consolidation due to the presence of vacant or underused land (see Map 2.2.2). Vacant lots, shopping centre parking lots, park-and-ride centres and other underused lots within reasonable walking distance - approximately 500 metres - from train and metro stations are specifically targeted. However, guidelines must be developed for increasing the intensity and diversity of activities in order to maximize positive impacts, both on the surrounding urban environment and on the use of the public transportation network.
The areas surrounding new metro and commuter train stations and new public transportation corridors must also meet the criteria for the intensification and diversification of activities presented in the implementation measures section below.
To this end, in addition to an appropriate regulatory framework, the City intends to establish a financial aid program. The application of these criteria and the implementation of the program are intended to revitalize and improve certain areas of the City. They will contribute to optimizing the use of the public transportation infrastructure in various ways and will promote a more even distribution of network traffic.
