1. Building on our assets to improve public and active transportation networks

Montréal does not need a revolution, but rather an evolution of its modes of transportation. Many different plans, policies, visions and objectives already exist or have been approved by responsible authorities and most urban and transport experts agree with these propositions. Our administration has no intention of dismissing all the work that has been done previously. Instead, we will inject the necessary leadership to make these plans and policies come to life.

We believe that the STM should fully assume its role as a transit authority by integrating within its operations the management of the BIXI program and the responsibility of Stationnement de Montréal, this in order to develop strong new synergies. Since it is necessary to find new funding sources for public transportation, the revenue generated by Stationnement de Montréal could eventually be used to finance the development of our public transport system via a dedicated fund.

Other propositions – such as the implementation of a tramway service or a track running parallel to the commuter trains servicing the West-Island to reach Pierre-Elliot Trudeau Airport – are too costly to be taken into consideration, given the present state of public finances. Our city already has a well-implemented public transportation network. Our priority for the next four years should be to consolidate and optimize these existing assets and to improve bus service by favouring efficient interaction between all modes of transportation.

We must also improve on how we all share our streets, roads and avenues through education campaigns designed to encourage changes of attitude at all levels.

COMMITMENT Improve our offer for alternative means of transportation and re-evaluate the sharing of public space allotted to different modes and uses:

● Increase to 370 the number of kilometers of reserved bus lanes (including high-speed services on certain main arteries such as Pie-IX, Côte-Vertu, Sauvé, Henri-Bourassa and many others) throughout Montreal and accelerate the implementation of these lanes by also relying on projects that will use our highway network;

● Support the extension of the blue Metro line towards Anjou to provide an intermodal hub to future commuters of the Pie-IX HSBS. We also support the extension of the orange line towards the projected Bois-Franc station;

● Complete the extension of Cavendish Boulevard to open up the Blue-Bonnet’s Hippodrome district, an area that will shortly undergo extensive real estate development;

● Pursue present infrastructure maintenance plans and take the time to develop mitigation measures that will eventually become permanent;

● Improve the safety of pedestrians notably by installing cameras  at key intersections to ensure they respect red lights;

● Take the appropriate measures to slow traffic in residential streets by adding improvements such as sidewalk extensions and cycling lanes to reduce the width of automobile traffic lanes;

● Pursue the development of bicycle paths and lanes by adding at least 50 km of new lanes per year;

● Assist the STM in its pilot project aimed at evaluating the eventual use of reserved lanes for cyclists;

● Examine the possibility of implementing river shuttles for East-West displacements and crossings from Montreal towards the South shore.

2. Implementing intelligent mobility systems

One of the main principles behind the Intelligent City concept is based on the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to provide citizens with services that better meet their needs.

There are many opportunities in the fields of transportation and mobility to use new technological developments to make life easier for Montrealers.

The implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) that has already begun in Montréal must be continued. These systems help manage the steady flow of traffic though the use of control centres, variable message information signs, remote-controlled traffic lights, mobile applications, etc.

COMMITMENT Accelerate the implementation of intelligent transportation systems and extend the possibilities of WiFi communication to public transport networks:

● Implement a global intelligent transportation system designed to favour the steady flow of traffic and allow the integration of other parallel systems such as the STM’S IBus project. This project aims at providing priority to buses at intersections while informing commuters with real-time information on the current conditions of the transportation network;

● Integrate the notion of the Intelligent City to the transportation network by providing cellular service in the underground metro and WiFi in new generation buses and bus shelters;

● Inform citizens by developing a multimodal application that will keep them informed at all times on traffic and road conditions (including that of the public transportation networks and the availability of parking spaces) so that commuters may select the most efficient means of transportation.

3. Improve parking space management

Considering that Montreal’s streets will undergo major public works over the next decade, it will be necessary to make the proper choices to ensure the steady flow of traffic. Our present parking facilities must take a leap into the 21st Century.

COMMITMENT Review existing policies regarding street parking to make spaces more accessible and in tune with the development of public transportation solutions:

● Transfer the responsibility of Stationnement de Montréal to the STM and evaluate the financial impacts associated with the transfer of parking royalties to a special fund dedicated to the development of public transportation;

● Establish a plan to convert existing downtown above-ground parking lots into underground facilities, thus freeing surface space that could be put to other uses benefitting the community (businesses, public spaces, housing, etc.);

● Implement an intelligent parking system and the required application so that citizens can be easily informed of the availability of spaces everywhere where parking is regulated by terminals.

4. Establish true leadership in the field of transportation

Montreal’s governance in the field of transportation is fragmented and too many actors are involved in the planning and decision-making processes. The prevailing situation restrains leadership and often slows down or even compromises important projects. One only has to think of the many difficulties and postponements encountered by the high-speed bus service lane on Pie-IX to understand why changes must be made.

Governance of transportation must be simplified and the best interests of the City must take precedence over other considerations.

COMMITMENT Review all aspects of coordination for a more efficient management of public transportation and play a leading role in bringing about change:

● Succeed in centralizing the metropolitan planning of transportation and the establishment of priorities within a new entity under the responsibility of municipal elected officials. In a nutshell, this means transferring the shared responsibilities of the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) and the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), as well as their respective budgets, to the CMM;

● During the first six months of our mandate, review the priorities of the City of Montreal’s Transportation Plan and make sure the selected projects are financed and undertaken promptly;

● Entrust the completion of the Pie-IX HSBS to a specific Project Office which will be held accountable for the advancement of the work on the ground;

● Establish a committee of experts and recognized actors from all walks of life to study the present use and sharing of all transportation mobility networks. This committee would be given short yet precise mandates to recommend actions needed to optimize the circulation of people and goods throughout Montréal. The first mandate of this committee would concern the revision of downtown parking policies and the proposal of new road sharing models. This committee could also evaluate the feasibility of a river shuttle project in the East end of the island.