A longer Blue line, more Azur trains and improved accessibility part of STM's 2025 vision
Province and federal government have committed to billions in funding
Lengthening the Metro's Blue line, adding more Azur trains, improving accessibility and building a garage to improve service are all priorities for Montreal's transit authority under its 2025 strategic plan.
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The STM unveiled the plan, which outlines long-term priorities and projects to come, on Tuesday afternoon.
Some of the specific promises announced include:
- Making 21 stops accessible to people with reduced mobility within five years.
- Replacing 38 existing trains with the newer Azur trains.
- Improving the frequency of trips.
- Construction of a garage at Côte-Vertu.
- Buying more hybrid buses.
The STM did not detail how far it plans to extend the Metro's Blue Line. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said an announcement is coming regarding those details.
To help finance these goals, the provincial government has committed to $8 billion in funding over 10 years and the federal government has committed $20 billion over 11 years.
There's been no official commitment to extending the Blue line, however, and opposition Projet Montréal Coun. Craig Sauvé said he's worried the STM will be unable to meet its goals.
"There's no indication that we'll get to where we need to be, for example, in the purchase of busing and the amount of ridership," he said.
With files from Navneet Pall