Montreal traffic woes by the numbers
CBC News | Posted: November 2, 2015 5:54 PM | Last Updated: November 2, 2015
Congestion costs an estimated $1.7 billion to the city annually
A new study recommending tolls on Montreal's bridges — and eventually on some of its main autoroutes — has thrust the city's chronic traffic problems back into the spotlight.
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Canada's Ecofiscal Commission, a think-tank headquartered at McGill University, says taxing drivers would encourage more people to use public transit.
Here's a portrait of traffic congestion in Montreal:
Facts and figures
- Half of Montrealers spend 60 minutes or more getting to and from work.
- 46 per cent of Laval workers commute to Montreal.
- 36 per cent of Longueuil workers commute to Montreal.
- Congestion costs the City of Montreal an estimated $1.7 billion annually.
- Montreal ranks 14th in North America in terms of traffic congestion, behind only Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
- 72 per cent of Montrealers say congestion makes it hard to get around.
- Almost a quarter of Montrealers say gridlock is diminishing their quality of life.
- 18 bridges connect the island of Montreal to the off-island suburbs.
- Two highways already have tolls on their bridges: Autoroutes 25 and 30.
- The proposed Train de l'Ouest, which would connect downtown Montreal to Hudson, got backing from prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau during the election campaign.
- Trudeau has also promised to scrap planned tolls on the new $4.2-billion Champlain Bridge.
Sources: Ecofiscal Commission, Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain, TomTom