Sustainable development at the heart of the REM
The REM is a major project that is redefining urban mobility in Greater Montréal.
Built by CDPQ Infra, this 100% automated light rail system will eventually span 67 km in the Greater Montréal area, connecting several strategic points including downtown and the Montreal-Trudeau Airport.
“This project aligns with the decarbonization objectives of the federal and provincial governments, which want to significantly reduce GHG emissions. What’s more, the Québec government is committed to a transportation electrification strategy, for which the REM is a major asset.
At CDPQ Infra, we firmly believe that developing public transit infrastructure adapted to people’s needs is an essential solution for helping us achieve our collective objectives.”
Economic development
- Over 19,500 housing units
built or planned near a station since 2018. - 89% of construction expenditures made in Québec.
Environment
- A 4-prong environmental compensation program has been implemented:
agricultural land, wetlands, forest plantations and at-risk animal and plant species. - 250,000 trees will be planted by the end of 2025
to offset some of the GHG emissions associated with building the REM.
Heritage and community
- $7.8 million dedicated to featuring works of art
in the REM as part of the UNIR public art program. - 66 archaeological interventions
carried out along the REM route, documenting the presence of remains and preserving archaeological heritage.
Decarbonizing transportation
- Over the first 25 years of full network operation, the REM will avoid close to 100,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
- The REM is a structured network, designed to mesh with existing transportation services (metro, bus, active networks), thereby maximizing the use of public transit.
Leveraging eco-design practices
- REM stations are designed using renewable materials such as cross-laminated timber from Chibougamau, Québec.
- In-station temperature control is based on strategies that minimize energy demands such as heating and air conditioning. Fritted-glass windows, for example, filter sunlight and minimize bird collisions.
- Areas near the REM stations are planted with low-maintenance native species to help manage runoff water.
Taking concrete measures to protect biodiversity and natural environments
- Installation of wildlife crossings to allow animals to move about safely around the network, thereby supporting ecological connectivity.
- REM agricultural land trust created in partnership with the UPA, which to date has enabled the acquisition of 45 hectares of farmland ($2.9 million contribution by CDPQ Infra).
- Development of 2.8 hectares in collaboration with the Mohawk community of Kahnawà:ke to create new wetlands and habitats for at-risk animal species such as brown snakes and turtles.
Managing residual materials responsibly
- 100,000 tonnes of excavated rock recovered to produce new aggregate, part of which will be used in building the REM. The remainder was sent to a supplier to be crushed and reused to manufacture concrete.
- Material recycling targets exceeded, with a total of 147,000 tonnes of residual materials processed as at December 2023.
Go further
2023 Sustainable Development Report