STM vows to offer better Metro, bus service at no extra cost to users

Public transit users in Montreal can expect better service in 2017 at no extra cost, according to the STM'sbudget for the upcoming year.

Released today, the public transit authority's $1.405 billion budget will keep single-trip regular fares at their current rate of $3.25 and a regular rate monthly pass will stay at $83 until at least July 2017.

The news comes after a week that saw almost daily service disruptions on Montreal's Metro system.

Metro users are being promised better service during peak periods and evenings in 2017, with a maximum wait timeoffive minutes between trains until 10:30 p.m. on the Orange, Green and Blue lines.

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The STM will also add extra trains during peak periods on the Orange, Green and Blue lines. The Blue line will also see its operating hours extended by 30 minutes.

Combined, the improvements represent an additional five million car-kilometres, which the STM says is the biggest increase since it opened its three Metro stations in Laval.

The transit authority is also adding 100,000 hours of bus service in 2017, of which half will serve to mitigate the impact of roadwork projects around the city.

Users of adapted transport will see the number of rides offered increase by five per cent, to a total of four million, and the STM is putting in place a reminder servicefor scheduledpickups.

The STM is also promising to have elevators workingin the Place-d'Armesand Honor-BeaugrandMetro stations in 2017, but it did not specify when.

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The City of Montreal has increased its annual contribution by $25.8 million, and theSTM is earmarking $23 million for theservice improvements on its Metro and bus lines.

"Having a bus or a metro at the right place at the right time, while having equipment in good working order, those are basic conditions for quality of service, and the STM understands thiswell," Montreal Mayor DenisCoderresaid in a news release.

Other details of the STM's 2017 budget include:

• 18 AZUR trains put into passenger service, for a total of 30.
• Full deployment of iBUS, allowing transit users to track buses in real time.
• Ongoing deployment of its mobile network, with 10 moreconnected stations, for a total of 40.
• Acquisition of 107 new, air-conditioned hybrid buses

Budget 'good news' for users: Transport 2000

Philippe Cousineau Morin of Transport 2000, a public transit advocacy group, called the budget "good news" for STM users.

"There will be more space on the Metro and buses and no rise in ticket prices in January," he said.

"This will really improve public transportation for Montrealers."

Craig Sauv, the transportation critic for Projet Montral, was less enthusiastic, sayingthe promises in this budget are two years too late.

"It's a catch-up budget, butthe damage is already done to the STM," he said, pointing to budget cutsMontreal MayorDenisCoderreimplemented in 2014.

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