The Costly, Time-Consuming Metro Refurbishment Project
Giving Montreal's Metro network a facelift is no small feat. Estimated to cost billions, revitalizing this decades-old metro would be no walk in the park, with a time-consuming process ahead. But first, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) needs the financial backing to accomplish this.
The Annual Public Infrastructure Investment Management Plan 2025-2026 by the Quebec government reveals that one-third of the Metro's stations are now in disrepair, with a third of its tunnels requiring extensive work.
Peel Station, rated "E" for being in a very poor condition, is a prime example. Its mezzanine possesses a damaged beam that poses a risk of concrete fall, while its cracked interior walls teeter on the brink of collapse. Meanwhile, the underground waterproofing membrane calls for replacement. A new membrane is also needed at Église Station, which shares the same "E" rating. At Champ-de-Mars Station, rated "D", a bump on the track threatens potential train damage, prompting trains to slow down near the station entrance.
The laundry list of problems may seem overwhelming, but the STM assures that the Metro remains safe.
Florence Junca-Adenot, Associate Professor at the Department of Urban and Tourism Studies at UQAM, shares this sentiment. "The STM has always been transparent about its work and information to users, ensuring confidence," she explains.
Junca-Adenot isn't surprised by the Metro's current state, given that it was launched in 1966. "It's common for infrastructure from the 1960s to undergo major renovations, especially when it comes to concrete construction," she recalls. "Matters like the Champlain Bridge and the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel, built around the same time as the Montreal metro, have received replacement and renovation."
Trajectoire Québec trusts the STM to ensure the Metro's safety. "As seen in the incidents at Saint-Michel and Saint-Laurent stations, swift action is taken once a safety concern is detected," says Brian Nash, communications advisor for the organization dedicated to promoting public transportation. "Yet, immediate investments in maintenance are vital to maintain safety."
Ultimately, it boils down to money.
The recent budget of the Legault government sparked controversy when the STM denounced a reduction in funds allocated for the maintenance of asset transport societies, specifically asking for an additional 585 million over three years without success. The Montreal transport society now expects an annual shortfall of 281 million.
"The STM has a long-standing policy of transparency regarding work and information to users, ensuring that there has been no loss of user confidence thus far," Junca-Adenot underlines.
According to Amélie Régis, spokesperson for the STM, the organization has an estimated investment deficit of 6 billion dollars for the maintenance of its Metro assets, with 560 million annually required to prevent this deficit from escalating. In the most optimistic funding projections, it is still unclear how many years it would take to bring the Metro network up to standard.
Key investments and renovation plans on the horizon include the Federal government committing over $650 million specifically for the Metro's extension projects, the Quebec government reallocating its infrastructure budget, now at $19 billion, to fund immediate infrastructure needs, and the ongoing REM expansion, with partial openings planned from 2025 to 2027.
While substantial funding has been secured and plans are progressing, the Montreal Metro network requires billions in investments and ongoing renovation efforts to combat its aging infrastructure and ensure reliable service in the years to come.
- The STM is urging the Quebec government to prioritize the financing of Montreal's metro revitalization, as one-third of the stations are currently in disrepair, and a third of its tunnels require extensive work.
- Amélie Régis, spokesperson for the STM, has revealed an estimated investment deficit of 6 billion dollars for the maintenance of the Metro's assets, with 560 million annually needed to prevent this deficit from growing.
- The Quebec government's Annual Public Infrastructure Investment Management Plan 2025-2026 implies policy-and-legislation changes that might address the funding gaps critical for the Metro's maintenance and general news coverage.
- As the Montreal Metro network faces significant deficits and demanding renovation projects, traffic and politics will play a crucial role in prioritizing the allocation of funds dedicated to ensuring the Metro's safe and reliable service in the future.
