Can Montreal have Free Public Transit?

This past weekend Mayor Valerie Plante, leader of Projet Montreal won her second term by 52%. So what are some of the promises on transit that were filled and ignored in her last term? And what was promised for this term?

Local 514 looks into the future of transit in Montreal, mobilization efforts around free transit and invites Vincent Obry-Legros, who researches transit at Polytechnique in studio to discuss transit.

Jean Lalande Coordinator from the Welfare Rights Committee of the South West Montreal, an advocacy group for ppl on welfare which is apart of the Coalition for Social Fare and Public Transit joins us via zoom to discuss the connection between gentrification and transit hikes.

Part-time Concordia professor and Urban Planner Jason Prince also joins us via zoom to discuss the movement for free transit in Montreal. 

Projet Mtl promised metro expansions – specifically expansions to the blue line and the creation of the pink line, which would run from Lachine through downtown to Montréal North. They also promised an additional 300 buses to the STM network, all public transit buses to be fully electric by 2025, free transit for seniors and children and that low income folks would receive 40% off monthly passes.

Transit has not been made free for seniors. Seniors instead have received a reduction on monthly passes, as they now pay $27 for monthly passes, a 50% reduction from original price, which started July 1 of this year. Children under 12 now ride free

Reduced fare for low income folks not addressed. Monthly passes increased by 2% – from $88.50 to $90.50 starting July 1 of this year. Single ride fares stayed at $3.50.

So what are the new promises?

Seniors will ride free by 2023. Plante has once again promised to lower fare and promised to present or complete the pink line in the next 500 days if re-elected.