[SFO-YYZ]

I’m not an expert, maybe this is a Toronto-focused page with mostly posters from Toronto, but I don’t get all the vehement hate on the REM and CDPQi on this forum. I’ve been taking the REM-A from Gare Centrale on a weekly basis to Quartier Dix30. Sure there have been shutdowns and disruptions, but on a day to day basis for average Montreal-area commuters like me, the system has been nothing short of transformational. Our company has 2 offices in the Montreal area, and the new one just opened in the office complex in Quartier Dix30 last year with a direction passage way to REM station. Now, many of my colleagues could traverse, without any exposure to traffic or snow or crappy weather, seamlessly between these two hubs in under 20 minutes. I also know of many colleagues who bought condos and houses around the south shore REM stations over the past 5 years, with the explicit intention of taking advantage of the TODs around the REM stations.

If you ask riders of the REM south shore line, most will tell you that they love the trains and the gorgeous modern stations. A friend of mine even led a group of artists from UQAM to install a series of art installations around Gare Centrale and other stations (my friend’s project was the art installation that you see hanging from the ceiling of the Gare Centrale REM station) - they are gorgeous and a clear indication of community support and people’s enthusiasm for this much needed project.

Sure, CDPQi monopolized the whole project and took over local transit operations on some former Exo lines. But at the end of the day, for us Montréalais, everyone knows that CDPQ is still a public institution, using our retirement savings that every Quebecois contributed to, with the sole purpose of serving Quebecois. God knows if we left the REM to the likes of STM or ARTM, when we would ever see a rapid transit rail network in the south shore. Just look at ARTM’s pathetic “alternative” plan after they pressured the Quebec government to scrap REM de l’Est, a $36-40 billion network of tramways with ZERO hope of ever getting built. What exactly does ARTM have to show ever since its existence? The “Chrono” transit app where you could charge your Opus card? Is that really it, for a regional transit agency that is supposed to oversee “region wide transformational” transit projects? If you go around asking Montréalais what they think ARTM does, 9/10 would likely tell you they have no idea why that agency exists or what it does. CDQP, for all of its alleged shortcomings, got the REM built and delivered, with the West Island and Deux Montagnes lines set to open later this year.

At the end of the day, people care about actual results and what gets built. Stop debating and consulting and trying to place blame on what “could have been” or “should have been”, and just build it for god’s sake like what PM Carney said.

The only regret I see in the entire REM saga is that Quebec and the Legault govt failed to institutionalize and scale up the whole CDPQi transit delivery model to fund deliver major transit projects in Quebec, on an ongoing and consistent basis. They did the first REM project and then was immediately shut down after killing the REM East, and that was it.

Sorry, rant over

 

[Kyle Campbell]

At the end of the day, people care about actual results and what gets built. Stop debating and consulting and trying to place blame on what “could have been” or “should have been”, and just build it for god’s sake like what PM Carney said.

Isn't that the whole point of talking transit on forums , much like the old Grandpa Simpson quote about "The Good Lord lets us grow old for a reason. To gain the wisdom to find fault with everything he's made!". All these transit projects are good for society, even troubled ones like the O-Train, delayed ones like the Crosstown and Finch, or ones with some growing pains like the REM.

 

[Northern Light]

I’m not an expert, maybe this is a Toronto-focused page with mostly posters from Toronto,

It is.

but I don’t get all the vehement hate on the REM and CDPQi on this forum.

On this forum you will find many people who are professional transportation planners, who work or have worked for VIA, for Metrolinx/GO, for the players in the current HSR consortium, the TTC and for STM.

By and large, they share similar conclusions on REM and CDPQ.

I wouldn't call it hateful; but I would say they feel the project delivered less than promised and has had significant, adverse impacts for future regional transit planning/expansion in Montreal, as well as for the HSR project.

I don't really think any of that is in dispute.

The argument is not that the project itself is terrible per se; or even that it hasn't produced some benefit, albeit with a reliability level that is a problem.

Its that the plan for it was imposed by the province, to serve the CDPQ, and not the interests of Montreal Transit riders over the medium and long term.

The as-built project's benefits are real enough, but could have been delivered by existing technology and already planned routes that would not have made a hash of lots of other stuff.

****

The absolutely dumb beyond words proposal for the REM de l'Est going elevated through downtown, predictably drew incredible anger from Montrealers forcing cancellation and wasting countless millions that pushed an utterly unworkable plan that never had a hope of public support.

Taken together, those projects served to delay the long overdue Blue Line extension and nix other projects entirely.

In the end, the REM has caused seething rage in Montreal's transit establishment............the adverse impacts and failures have embarrassed the government, which now means this will be an orphan project.....making it less successful.

Meanwhile the public is worse off.

The irritation is genuine, because its real money, real inconvenience and the adverse impacts will cost billions to mitigate and take a generation.

So yeah.....folks aren't happy. Lots of them in Montreal too.

 

[SFO-YYZ]

The absolutely dumb beyond words proposal for the REM de l'Est going elevated through downtown, predictably drew incredible anger from Montrealers forcing cancellation and wasting countless millions that pushed an utterly unworkable plan that never had a hope of public support.

I don’t know if you personally live in Montreal or take transit daily in the region (I do, for the past decade), but the whole debate around REM de l’Est’s elevated proposal through downtown is just utter BS. Almost everyone in the transit establishments here know that, that it’s killed off due to opposition from STM and the NIMBYs who can’t envision an elevated rapid transit solution in Montreal. The route that was originally proposed was an elevated rail on Rene Levesque East, a wide 8-lane stroad with no notable cultural or historical value except a highway for passing vehicles. The CDPQi made several revisions to this segment through downtown, and eventually even got endorsement from mayor Valerie Plante after the revisions. The revised proposal envisioned an elevated system with dedicated pedestrian and cycling pathways that blend will into the surrounding environment. All of this was well covered by the local media like TVA and Radio Canada, and there was general consensus that this was a good solution delivered at a good timeline and budget of $10 billion. Sure, it might increase but not to the preposterous ARTM proposal of a $36 billion tram line in the east.

But I digress. Sure, the original REM was imposed on Montreal and may have impacted several longer-term transit visions. But in mid-2010s, where were those “long term” transit projects or visions? Where was elusive HSR or even HFR at that time, aside from piles of consultant studies from decades before? The only serious project at that time was the blue-line extension and maybe the orange line extension proposals, oh and don’t forget Plante’s Pink Line 2017 election promise . Everything else were fictional, unfunded lines on ARTM’s transit fantasy maps and studies, very much like ARTM’s myriad of transit fantasy maps today. To the general public, and to those riders who take REM everyday and who live and work around the REM TODs today, I can undoubtedly say that the project is a huge value add to our day to day commute, and is nothing short of transformational to us transit users who are using them everyday. Again, people want stuff done and want to see things built now, not in decades when even I - a post 90s millennial/GenZ - will be planning my RRSP withdrawals. REM has been the one major transit and infrastructure project in the Montreal area that has given a lot of us confidence and hope that we as Québécois can still deliver grand projects within a reasonable timeline.

We don’t need a perfect long term solution. Perfect is always the enemy of the good.

 

[SFO-YYZ]

Isn't that the whole point of talking transit on forums , much like the old Grandpa Simpson quote about "The Good Lord lets us grow old for a reason. To gain the wisdom to find fault with everything he's made!". All these transit projects are good for society, even troubled ones like the O-Train, delayed ones like the Crosstown and Finch, or ones with some growing pains like the REM.

Fair enough, I get it !

 

[DSCToronto]

Hmmm. From: https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2025/03/nowhere-to-go-stm-cracks-down-on-homelessness/

Nowhere to Go: STM Cracks Down on Homelessness​

On March 13, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) introduced a new policy aiming to prevent unhoused individuals from seeking refuge in metro stations. This directive requires individuals without housing to move continuously through the metro system, prohibiting them from remaining in one station for extended periods. The policy has sparked criticism from advocacy groups and community organizations, who argue it criminalizes homelessness rather than addressing its root causes.

This decision follows public consultations on homelessness and social cohabitation in Montreal conducted by the Office de consultation publique de Montral (OCPM) in mid-February. These consultations underscored the complexity of addressing homelessness and emphasized the need for diversified, long-term solutions. Participants highlighted that there is no universal solution to these issues and recommended developing resources adapted to various needs, such as shelters accommodating couples, individuals with pets, and those exhibiting disruptive behaviors, to ensure better social integration and support for vulnerable populations. The STM claims the.new measure is meant to “balance the needs of all metro users” and “ensure stations remain accessible for transit purposes.” They have also cited safety concerns and increasing incidents of overcrowding in metro stations, particularly during colder months.

Advocacy groups have strongly condemned the move, arguing that it effectively displaces some of the city’s most vulnerable residents without offering viable alternatives. Québec solidaire called on Legault to urge churches and community organizations to step in to provide additional shelter, but critics argue that relying on religious institutions is an inadequate systemic solution.

Indigenous community advocates have pointed out that the number of unhoused Indigenous people in Montreal is rising, a population which faces disproportionate struggles due to inadequate shelter resources and policing practices. Many activists argue that instead of displacement, Montreal needs long-term solutions, including more funding for shelters, transitional housing, and wraparound social services: comprehensive support programs that address multiple needs at once, such as mental health care, addiction treatment, job assistance, and case management to help individuals reintegrate into stable housing.

The STM’s policy has reignited a city-wide debate: should public spaces be made more accessible to unhoused populations, or should other solutions be prioritized? As criticism mounts, the STM has yet to announce any plans to revise the policy or introduce alternative solutions for unhoused individuals who seek refuge in the metro. Advocacy groups continue to call for emergency measures to support the city’s unhoused population, stressing that access to shelter remains a year-round issue. The debate over public space and homelessness in Montreal is far from over, with pressure on the city and the STM to provide meaningful solutions rather than temporary deterrents

 

[Mind_the_gap]

NouvLR Winter 2025 update:
North Shore ;
West Island ;
Centre and Airport ;
Downtown Montréal

My favourite photo:

The high-speed elevators at Édouard-Montpetit.

 

[treplow]

I don’t know if you personally live in Montreal or take transit daily in the region (I do, for the past decade), but the whole debate around REM de l’Est’s elevated proposal through downtown is just utter BS. Almost everyone in the transit establishments here know that, that it’s killed off due to opposition from STM and the NIMBYs who can’t envision an elevated rapid transit solution in Montreal. The route that was originally proposed was an elevated rail on Rene Levesque East, a wide 8-lane stroad with no notable cultural or historical value except a highway for passing vehicles. The CDPQi made several revisions to this segment through downtown, and eventually even got endorsement from mayor Valerie Plante after the revisions. The revised proposal envisioned an elevated system with dedicated pedestrian and cycling pathways that blend will into the surrounding environment. All of this was well covered by the local media like TVA and Radio Canada, and there was general consensus that this was a good solution delivered at a good timeline and budget of $10 billion. Sure, it might increase but not to the preposterous ARTM proposal of a $36 billion tram line in the east.

I haven't lived in Montreal since my student days in the early/mid 2000s, but from what I recall this depiction of Boul. Rene Levesque is bang on - it's basically an urban freeway running through non descript office towers. A lot of people still seem to have this impression of inner city rail guideways as the hulking iron behemoths of Brooklyn and Chicago rather than the modern, well integrated and relatively small footprint of the ones found in Vancouver.

 

[SFO-YYZ]

I haven't lived in Montreal since my student days in the early/mid 2000s, but from what I recall this depiction of Boul. Rene Levesque is bang on - it's basically an urban freeway running through non descript office towers. A lot of people still seem to have this impression of inner city rail guideways as the hulking iron behemoths of Brooklyn and Chicago rather than the modern, well integrated and relatively small footprint of the ones found in Vancouver.

I live about 1 km north of Boul. Rene Levesque in the Plateau. Most of us who live in the area actively avoid Rene Levesque and Sherbrooke, because they are just awful awful stroads designed with only one purpose: movement of single occupancy vehicular traffic in and out of downtown. They don’t have any semblance of cycling infrastructure, and even walking for pedestrians is an awful experience. Most people living in the area choose to walk or cycle on side streets like Ontario or St. Catherine where there is much more traffic calming measures and wider sidewalks.

Hence why it was preposterous when some NIMBY groups came out slamming the REM East’s elevated infrastructure in the middle of Boul. Rene Levesque. Residents like me in the area questioned how an urban elevated rail infrastructure is going to make an 8-lane urban concrete stroad any worse than it already was?? If anything, the elevated guideway proposed by CDPQ (after multiple revisions) created a series of bike lanes, wider pedestrian paths, and traffic calming measures on Rene Levesque that would’ve made it a lot better for local area residents to actually enjoy the street. It was just a sad excuse to kill the REM east project, and they succeeded.

3 years later, we still got absolutely nothing from ARTM who was supposed to come up with a viable alternative… As a local area resident, we WANT Vancouver style skytrain on Rene Levesque. It would’ve brought more transit options for those of us in the Plateau as well as those in Hochelaga Maisonneuve, and it would’ve also restructured a giant ugly stroad like Rene Levesque into something more human-scaled and usable.

 

[Kyle Campbell]

I guess accessibility won't be making much progress in Montreal for a while

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/stm-montreal-metro-universal-accessibility-elevators-1.7514276

 

[p_xavier]

I’m not an expert, maybe this is a Toronto-focused page with mostly posters from Toronto, but I don’t get all the vehement hate on the REM and CDPQi on this forum. I’ve been taking the REM-A from Gare Centrale on a weekly basis to Quartier Dix30. Sure there have been shutdowns and disruptions, but on a day to day basis for average Montreal-area commuters like me, the system has been nothing short of transformational. Our company has 2 offices in the Montreal area, and the new one just opened in the office complex in Quartier Dix30 last year with a direction passage way to REM station. Now, many of my colleagues could traverse, without any exposure to traffic or snow or crappy weather, seamlessly between these two hubs in under 20 minutes. I also know of many colleagues who bought condos and houses around the south shore REM stations over the past 5 years, with the explicit intention of taking advantage of the TODs around the REM stations.

If you ask riders of the REM south shore line, most will tell you that they love the trains and the gorgeous modern stations. A friend of mine even led a group of artists from UQAM to install a series of art installations around Gare Centrale and other stations (my friend’s project was the art installation that you see hanging from the ceiling of the Gare Centrale REM station) - they are gorgeous and a clear indication of community support and people’s enthusiasm for this much needed project.

Sure, CDPQi monopolized the whole project and took over local transit operations on some former Exo lines. But at the end of the day, for us Montréalais, everyone knows that CDPQ is still a public institution, using our retirement savings that every Quebecois contributed to, with the sole purpose of serving Quebecois. God knows if we left the REM to the likes of STM or ARTM, when we would ever see a rapid transit rail network in the south shore. Just look at ARTM’s pathetic “alternative” plan after they pressured the Quebec government to scrap REM de l’Est, a $36-40 billion network of tramways with ZERO hope of ever getting built. What exactly does ARTM have to show ever since its existence?
The “Chrono” transit app where you could charge your Opus card?
Is that really it, for a regional transit agency that is supposed to oversee “region wide transformational” transit projects? If you go around asking Montréalais what they think ARTM does, 9/10 would likely tell you they have no idea why that agency exists or what it does. CDQP, for all of its alleged shortcomings, got the REM built and delivered, with the West Island and Deux Montagnes lines set to open later this year.

At the end of the day, people care about actual results and what gets built. Stop debating and consulting and trying to place blame on what “could have been” or “should have been”, and just build it for god’s sake like what PM Carney said.

The only regret I see in the entire REM saga is that Quebec and the Legault govt failed to institutionalize and scale up the whole CDPQi transit delivery model to fund deliver major transit projects in Quebec, on an ongoing and consistent basis. They did the first REM project and then was immediately shut down after killing the REM East, and that was it.

Sorry, rant over

Spoiler

App developped by exo with integration from the STM

I still have hope for the REM east. CDPQi being investated with QC City and ALTO is a good signs of things to come. Just look at Toronto how much it built in such little time. I remember bitching about Ford winning as that would kill transit. What a difference a decade makes.

 

[felix123]

Montreal transit: Some users to test boarding by tapping phones

Montreal public transit users might be able to board the bus or Metro with just a tap of their smartphone starting later this year.

www.ctvnews.ca

Finally! If you don't have a plastic Opus card, which you can load with your phone, then takes a while to buy a ticket in a metro station even without a lineup. And no one carries change anymore so taking the bus is even worse. It's often a lot easier to just Bixi somewhere.

 

[just east of the creek]

I was working in the Montreal area last week and hopping in and out of the city. Saturday I needed to get to the south shore and thought I would just hop in the REM to the meeting. So I made my way to Bonaventure, made the looooong trek to the REM station (please a little more signage for those of us not making regular use of the complicated and long walk), and discovered, when I reached the stairs leading to the track area that the REM service is cancelled. Apparently every weekend for the balance of the summer. Who new? I guess i should have reviewed UT for an announcement, because moving through the Metro system all week there was not one announcement either verbal, or a display. Zip, until you reached the top of the stairs leading to the track. This will be handy for tourist season.

I asked the inspector manning the stairs, what was the reason. The answer - 'No idea'. Sounds a lot like Metrolinx East.

 

[felix123]

I was working in the Montreal area last week and hopping in and out of the city. Saturday I needed to get to the south shore and thought I would just hop in the REM to the meeting. So I made my way to Bonaventure, made the looooong trek to the REM station (please a little more signage for those of us not making regular use of the complicated and long walk), and discovered, when I reached the stairs leading to the track area that the REM service is cancelled. Apparently every weekend for the balance of the summer. Who new? I guess i should have reviewed UT for an announcement, because moving through the Metro system all week there was not one announcement either verbal, or a display. Zip, until you reached the top of the stairs leading to the track. This will be handy for tourist season.

I asked the inspector manning the stairs, what was the reason. The answer - 'No idea'. Sounds a lot like Metrolinx East.

There should definitely be better communication for the closure. You're probably aware but if not, it's for the final testing and commissioning for the next 40ish km of REM track and stations, scheduled to open this fall.

No way the REM is ML-level terrible though, despite its flaws. The REM was conceived after line 5 was already shovels in the ground yet the REM is open now. In Canada, we can count that as a huge win.

 

[nfitz]

The REM was conceived after line 5 was already shovels in the ground yet the REM is open now. In Canada, we can count that as a huge win.

Conceived? Premier Lesage announced the northern section from Central to Deux Montagnes back in the early 1960s. And they were talking about the (earlier opening) southern section from Union to the south shore about a quarter-century ago.