The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM; English: Metropolitan Regional Transportation Authority) is an umbrella organization that manages and integrates road transport and public transport in Greater Montreal in Quebec, Canada. The organization was created by the Government of Quebec on June 1, 2017, replacing the former planning mandate of the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT).[4] It has assumed other key initiatives including Opus card operation and multiple other projects supporting transit.
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 1, 2017 |
| Jurisdiction | Greater Montreal |
| Headquarters | 700 rue de la Gauchetière, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Annual budget | CA$2,470.6 million (2023)[1] |
| Agency executives | |
| Website | http://www.artm.quebec |
History
editIn 2017, the AMT was dissolved and replaced by two newly created organizations, the ARTM and the Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM). Its planning mandate went to the ARTM while the operation of the various commuter rail lines across the Greater Montreal became the responsibility of the RTM. Also known as Exo, the latter also acquired oversight of the public transport agencies of Montreal, Laval, and Longueuil.[5]
Organization
editThe ARTM consists of six appointed chair members from the Montreal Metropolitan Community council and six transit experts appointed by Transports Québec, the provincial transportation authority.[5]
Fare structure
editThe ARTM is responsible for setting public transit fares in the Greater Montreal area,[6] including fare collection technology and the Opus transit card system.[7] It began work to simplify the fare structre in 2021, with the aim of reducing the number of fare zones and retiring the majority of the 700 different fare types available on the territory.[8]
There are two primary types of fares:[9]
- Bus fares are valid on buses anywhere in the territory (zones A, B and C, including between zones. Out-of-territory bus tickets are valid on Exo bus services that operate between zones C and D.
- All Modes fares are zone-specific (A, AB, ABC or ABCD) but are valid on any mode of transit provided in those zones (bus, commuter train, REM, river shuttle or métro).
You can buy fares valid for:[9]
- 1, 2 or 10 trips. Trips may involve an unlimited number of transfers on valid modes and zones, for up to 90 or 120 minutes.[10]
- Unlimited trips for an evening, weekend, 24 hours, 3 days or a month.
Reduced fares are available for children, students over 18, and people aged 65 and over. Children aged 11 and under ride for free.[11]
The fare schedule includes more specific and less flexible fares for individual public transit operators and Exo bus sectors.[9] Paratransit has its own fare schedule for registered users.[12]
Fare zones
editThe ARTM is progressively implementing a fare system with four zones across its territory, named from A to D.[8]
Prior to July 1, 2021, the ARTM operated 8 zones for train and monthly passes, numbered 1 to 8. Progressively since 2021, fares have been introduced for all modes of transit using combinations of A, AB, ABC and ABCD, and for buses within ABC as well as between C and D.[8]
As of the fare schedule of July 1, 2024, only train-specific and certain municipalities use the old zones.[9] Public transit authorities operating in the ARTM territory new fares in the transit agencies operating within the ARTM territory.
Uniform signage
edit
In 2018, the ARTM gave the Société de transport de Montréal the mandate to develop standards for a harmonized metropolitan signage for public transit agencies to use, based on their recent revision to signage of the Montreal Metro.[13] In July 2023, the ARTM unveiled its updated metropolitan transit network map, in time for the inauguration of the first branch of the REM.[14]
Park and ride
editThe ARTM also is responsible for all Park and ride lots in the Greater Montreal region. It runs 61 park-and-ride lots,[15] many that are connected to either metropolitan bus terminuses, STM Metro stations, or Exo commuter rail stations.
In addition, the agency also organizes carpooling, offering unloading spaces near public transit services in several of its park-and-ride lots, which allow for transfers to the bus, Metro or commuter train.[16]
Future projects
editThe ARTM is undertaking several major projects:
- Metro extensions: Extending the Blue Line by five stations to Anjou. The extension is slated to open in 2030[17]
- Extending the Pie-IX BRT system to Notre-Dame Street.[18] The extension is due to open in 2027.
- Study a major transit solution for the Grand Sud-Ouest area in Montreal. The project could possibly consist of a new light rail line or an extension of the Green Line into LaSalle, Lachine and Dorval.[19]
- Study a major transit solution to replace the cancelled REM de l'Est project, named PSE. In January 2023, it was revealed that the ARTM was planning on proposing a 21-kilometre light rail line consisting of 22 stations, at a cost of $10.4 billion.[20]
References
edit- ^ "L'heure des choix : Budget 2024" [Time to decide: 2024 Budget] (PDF) (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "L'ARTM souhaite la bienvenue à Mme Ginette Sylvain, nouvelle présidente du conseil d'administration" [The ARTM welcomes Mrs Ginette Sylvain, new chair of the board] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. 17 July 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "L'équipe de direction" [Leadership Team] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ "New Montreal transit boss wants a system that is more user-friendly".
- ^ a b "L'Agence métropolitaine de transport sera abolie".
- ^ "Financer" [To Finance.] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Pour faire avancer la mobilité : Programme des immobilisations 2024-2033" [To advance mobility: 2024-2033 capital program] (PDF) (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Refonte tarifaire" [Fare reform] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Fare schedule: Public transit. Fares in effect starting July 1, 2024" (PDF). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Transit fares". Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain.
- ^ "Fare schedule". Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Fares - Paratransit". Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Signalétique métropolitaine" [Metropolitan Signage] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ "Check out Greater Montreal's new public transit map". CTV News Montreal. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ The AMT is Archived 2011-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ AMT - Carpooling Archived 2013-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Blue line extension".
- ^ "Work begins on first phase to extend STM Pie-IX BRT". 6 September 2023.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/public-transit-light-rail-lachine-dorval-1.7084309 [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-eastern-train-rem-1.7110791 [bare URL]