Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, STM Chairman Philippe Schnobb, and STM’s CEO Luc Tremblay have announced a C$1.405 billion 2017 budget for the Société de transport de Montréal (STM). The budget shows that current expenses rose by only 0.6 percent over last year.
The budget includes an increase of C$25.8 million in contributions by the Agglomeration of Montreal, as well as STM’s investment of C$23 million for service and targeted measures. The Agglomeration of Montreal raised its contribution by 55.2 percent as part of a Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL) program, for a total of C$26.7 million dollars. The program serves to finance a portion of STM’s investment projects.
“Having a bus or metro at the right place at the right time, while having equipment in good working order, those are basic conditions for quality service and the STM understands this well,” stated Mayor Coderre. “The Agglomeration of Montreal and the Government of Quebec equally support the strategic shift the STM has taken, putting customers first among their priorities. In fact, this is why we raised our basic contribution to the STM by 6 percent.”
“This is the STM’s last budget, in its current format, as the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) will be created on June 1, 2017. It’s a solid, thorough budget with advantages for customers, a budget that will allow the STM to position itself for the transition period and for negotiating its performance contract with ARTM,” added Tremblay.
STM’s 2017 budget features an increase of 5 million car-km for the metro, the biggest increase since the three stations opened in Laval. The Blue line’s operating hours will also be extended by 30 minutes at night.
STM will also undertake the following measures:
- 18 AZUR trains put into passenger service, for a total of 30;
- Ongoing deployment of mobile network with 10 newly connected stations, for a total of 40;
- Elevators becoming operational at Place-d’Armes and Honoré-Beaugrand stations;
- Ongoing program for major refurbishment and replacement of escalators in the metro system.
“Last year, we undertook a significant strategic shift,” remarked Schnobb. “It rests on a marked increase in STM’s capacity to deliver the service it promises to customers and on massive investments in infrastructure maintenance. The 2017 budget goes even further, with major investments in service improvements.”
“In tangible terms, the Montreal metro will offer a level of service like never before, and bus service will also be enhanced in several areas. These improvements will take place without any fare increases in January,” added Schnobb.