Réseau express métropolitain: Primary construction sites and work for fall of 2018
- Continued work and field study on the Deux-Montagnes line
- Start of major work at the Panama bus terminal in Brossard
- Demolition of the railway bridge over A40
Montréal, August 21, 2018 – On the eve of the back-to-school season, in a joint technical briefing with Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) and the Mobilité Montréal partners, Réseau express métropolitain (REM) announced today what the primary construction sites are to watch for fall 2018.
This technical presentation is available for viewing on rem.info/en (“Documentation” page).
Deux-Montagnes Line – Study focusing on alternative transportation
The Deux-Montagnes line will be completely modernized with the implementation of a new automated, high-frequency metro, which will increase the capacity of this transit corridor for decades to come. This transformation actually began this summer with closure of one of the two railway tracks between the Canora and Mont-Royal stations. Closure of this southern segment on the Deux-Montagnes line led to permanent elimination of four train departures during peak periods, as well as all trains on the weekends. Eliminating these departures significantly reduces the user capacity of the trains running on the Deux-Montagnes line.
Station spill-overs are anticipated during this back-to-school season, based on Exo’s travel projections. It is in this context that a major communication campaign will be launched very soon, to invite users to opt for other public transit solutions available, but which remain – for the time-being – underused.
The following options and specific stations have been proposed:
- For all stations: choose departure times before or after peak periods (avoid trains 926, 928 and 930 in am and trains 943, 945, 947 and 949 in pm). Analyses have shown that there is still some capacity remaining on certain trains before and after peak periods.
- Bois-Franc, Du Ruisseau and Montpelier stations: we recommend the Côte-Vertu bus and metro. Specific lines are recommended on a flyer (view below).
- Canora and Mont-Royal stations: use the Mascouche line – four arrivals in the morning and four arrivals at night.
Details for all of the proposed alternatives are outlined in a flyer that will be distributed to users by exo.
Our goal is to encourage users who can – primarily those on Montréal Island – to opt for these alternatives in this back-to-school season. As an extra incentive, a 10-trip “Trial TRAM” pass will be handed out at the stations. Exo teams will therefore be present at the stations to assist clients and help guide them toward these alternatives.
Over the next few months, this one-track configuration on the Deux-Montagnes lines will allow construction on the future Mont-Royal and Canora REM stations to begin, while maintaining some train service.
Continuing to run train service while a metro line is under construction is a very uncommon and sensitive operation, requiring, over the short-term, that the power supply to the Deux-Montagnes line at the Canora and Mont-Royal stations be transferred, in order to keep the construction site safe and increase the pace of construction work.
A fare mitigation measure of up to 30% was also announced last week for people who use this line and experience downgraded service as a result of the work. Details regarding this measure are available at rtm.quebec/en/rem.
Deux-Montagnes line – the next steps
We should recall that beginning early 2020, and for approximately 24 months, one complete segment of the Deux-Montagnes line – between the Du Ruisseau Station and Central Station – will be replaced with bus and metro service. This train service interruption is necessary due to the magnitude of the work to be carried out. The closure will also allow tests to be conducted on the new rolling stock, as a precursor to opening this segment in 2022.
In preparation for this portion of the works, committees of experts have been meeting on a regularly basis to identify replacement public transit measures that can be implemented during the various planned phases.
A brainstorming forum will be organized in the fall of 2018 with mobility partners and various organizations to identify replacement solutions that are quicker and greener than solo driving. Until then, consultations will continue with users, in collaboration with Trajectoire Québec. The comprehensive strategy for ensuring transit services for Deux Montagnes and Mascouche line users will be presented in the fall of 2019.
South Shore – start of major work at the Panama terminal
Work on the South Shore this fall will be focused in two locations.
First, construction of REM structures will begin in the A10 median. Deviation of the A10 toward Sherbrooke will take place beginning in mid-September. In order to maintain two traffic lanes, A10 lanes heading east (toward Sherbrooke) will be diverted to the service roads, and a third lane will be created. This configuration will accommodate two-lane “highway” traffic, but the service road will be reduced from two lanes to one.
Work will also be taking place at the existing Panama bus terminal. To limit the impact on bus service, a temporary terminal will be set up in anticipation of the REM work in this sector. The temporary terminal will help to maintain the bus lines it services, primarily the RTL and exo on the South Shore; it will also help to limit the impact service has on REM construction. The construction of this temporary terminal will, however, reduce the capacity of the park-and-ride lot. In September, approximately 500 of the 1500 spaces will be closed in the park-and-ride lot. Discussions are currently taking place with the surrounding land owners to identify alternative parking options during construction. The current bus terminal and parking entrances will remain open.
West Island and airport – demolition of a railway bridge over A40
On the West Island of Montréal, work will primarily be centred on the Doney Branch. Acquisition of this branch from CN allows the REM to be built in an existing corridor, thereby limiting the impact that the work will have on the area. However, one section of this branch will need to be demolished. This dismantling work scheduled for this fall includes a segment of the branch that runs over A40, at Henri-Bourassa Boulevard West.
Collaboration with the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports (MTMDET) is ongoing, in an effort to coordinate the Ministère’s construction sites with the work scheduled to take place on the weekends, which will impact traffic on the A40.
Other construction sites to watch
This fall, excavation work to connect the Montréal metro’s blue line to the REM’s future Station Édouard-Montpetit will begin in the Université de Montréal sector. The STM metro entrance facing Pavillon Marie-Victorin is being demolished, so that excavation can begin. Please remember that the other two Édouard-Montpetit metro station entrances will remain open.
In downtown Montréal, work to re-locate underground public utilities will take place in the fall of 2018 on the eastbound side of McGill College Avenue, between Sainte-Catherine Street and Maisonneuve Boulevard. Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on that side of the street during this time, but parking will still be accessible. Coordination with the City of Montréal is ongoing to maintain traffic on the westbound side of the street, which will remain open.
In the spring of 2019, intensive work for construction of the future station and connection to the Montréal metro’s green line will begin and run for approximately two years in that sector. Work for this major undertaking will alternate to prevent having to close both eastbound and westbound lanes at the same time. Close coordination is taking place with the City of Montréal, as they’ve initiated an extensive consultation regarding the vision for this avenue.
Tools to monitor work progress
There are several informational tools in place to monitor work progress, including a website that is updated daily, work notices, a telephone line, a newsletter and SMS alerts.
The REM’s Community Relations Office will also hold various activities this fall to proactively and regularly inform communities affected of upcoming work in their sectors, before it begins.
In terms of public transit, downloading the Chrono application will provide users with all of the information they need to travel efficiently by train, bus or metro. Using Chrono, you can quickly access the schedules for all of these methods of transit, no matter where or when you need to go, even if you’re offline.
For more information, visit rem.info/en, follow us on Twitter @REMgrandmtl or consult our Facebook page.
About REM
The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is a new, 67-km integrated public transit network that will feature 26 stations and link downtown Montreal, universities, South Shore, West Island, North Shore and Montréal Trudeau airport through a fully automated, electric light rail system. Offering high-frequency service, the REM will be in service seven days per week, 20 hours per day, and will be connected to three main Montréal metro lines.
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