STM adds reserved lanes to Montréal bus network

Credit: STM

Three new reserved lanes are being opened on Montréal’s bus network this November.

Specifically, the new reserved lanes on Jarry, Queen Mary and Henri-Bourassa West, along with a pull-off lane on Sherbrooke East, will enable more timely and reliable travel for passengers.

Forming part of the Mouvement bus 2025 vision, the operator, STM, will be adding 10.8 kilometres of reserved lanes to the current network, with the support of the City of Montréal.

“The implementation of these reserved lanes is part of the STM’s and City of Montréal’s joint action plan to strengthen the bus network and improve its flow, reliability, and, by extension, overall performance and appeal,” commented Éric Alan Caldwell, Chair of the STM Board of Directors.

“These new measures will improve service for more than 20,000 trips, allowing Montrealers who choose sustainable mobility to enjoy better travel conditions.”

Already in operation: pull-off lane on Sherbrooke Street East and reserved lane on Queen Mary Road

An eastbound lane on Sherbrooke, at the corner of De la Rousselière, was narrowed and removed, making it difficult for buses to get around and causing delays. The implementation of a permanent pull-off lane for buses, taxis and cyclists will improve bus flow, increase safety and reduce travel times.

Queen Mary is a critical transit corridor, as 60 per cent of trips in this area are made by bus, and line 51 is the busiest bus on the STM network. The new reserved lane for buses and taxis, which is 2.2km in both directions between Macdonald and Cedar Crescent, will improve timeliness and reliability on lines 51 and 166.

To follow later this month: reserved lane on Jarry Street and reserved lane on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard West

A new reserved bus-and-bike sharing lane, which will be 6.9km in both directions, will be implemented on Jarry Street between Acadie and Pie-IX. Customers of line 193 – which serves more than 13,000 riders per day – will benefit from better service with improved travel times and increased bus punctuality. Cyclists will also be able to use this reserved lane, enhancing their safety.

Upcoming major residential and commercial real estate projects and the arrival of the REM, which will connect to the future Bois-Franc station, will increase the already significant mobility needs on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard West between Toupin, Cavendish and Marcel-Laurin. As a result, the STM will extend the reserved lane, which was implemented in 2017 and currently runs between Cavendish and Marcel-Laurin, west of Place Vermandère by 1.7km in both directions.

“Mouvement bus is about providing Montrealers with city-wide access to fast, frequent and efficient transportation services within walking distance of their homes and workplaces. As we shift to a more environmentally conscious way of life, it is our responsibility to offer greener, more efficient travel options,” added Mr. Caldwell.