Montreal Transit Agency Announces Historic Network Transformation
The Société de transport de Montréal has unveiled what officials are calling the most significant overhaul in the agency's history, with a comprehensive reshuffling of bus routes designed to integrate seamlessly with the upcoming Réseau express métropolitain expansion. This transformation represents a fundamental rethinking of how Montrealers will navigate their city's transit system.
Spring Implementation with REM Branch Launch
The sweeping changes will take effect this spring, coinciding with the highly anticipated opening of the Anse-à-l'Orme REM branch. While an exact launch date remains unconfirmed, transit planners have committed to a spring timeline, potentially putting the new network in operation as early as March 23, 2026.
"This is the biggest remake of the bus network ever," declared Pascal Rochon, STM's director of planning. "It covers a little less than half the territory of the island of Montreal."
Extensive Geographic Coverage
The network transformation will impact fifteen municipalities across Montreal's landscape, spanning from the western extremity of the island in Senneville to Montréal-Nord in the northeast. The changes specifically target six boroughs and nine demerged cities, creating a coordinated transit ecosystem that leverages existing REM infrastructure on the Deux-Montagnes branch while preparing for the new Anse-à-l'Orme connection.
Areas including Côte-des-Neiges and Ahuntsic will benefit from improved access to stations, while the redesign fundamentally reorients how buses connect to the expanding light-rail network.
Optimized Travel Patterns and Benefits
The restructuring represents a strategic shift from downtown-centric routes to more localized travel patterns focused on REM station connections. According to STM analyses, the majority of riders will experience neutral or improved travel times:
- Approximately 18% of riders will see travel times decrease by five minutes or more
- Only 6% will experience increased travel times
- A remarkable 88% of users will reach REM stations without requiring bus transfers
The redesign also incorporates contingency planning for potential service disruptions, with several routes like the 470 Pierrefonds and 211 providing connections to both REM and métro stations as backup options.
Key Route Changes and Improvements
The transformation affects 80 bus lines with specific modifications across multiple regions:
Ahuntsic/Montréal-Nord/St-Laurent Sector
- Bus Line 69 will be rerouted to Henri-Bourassa Boulevard, connecting Marie-Victorin CÉGEP to Bois Franc and Du Ruisseau REM stations
- New Line 127 will serve the Bois-Franc neighborhood with direct access to the Bois-Franc REM station
- Line 202 extends to the industrial park surrounding the Côte-de-Liesse REM station
- Line 19 transforms into Line 20 with extended service to Parc-Fréderic-Back
- Line 174 extends to the Montpellier REM station, linking Côte-Vertu métro with industrial areas
West Island Transformations
Significant changes will reshape transit in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Pierrefonds, and Île-Bizard:
- Lines 68 and 468 receive increased departures and more direct REM connections via reserved lanes
- New Line 230 creates a vital link between Fairview and Des Sources REM stations and Exo's Cedar Park station
- Line 207 extends service to the Île Bizard sports centre
One notable West Island change involves the dismantling of the Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping centre bus loop, with all services redirected to the Fairview REM station located a five- to ten-minute walk away. The STM's customer service centre will also relocate within the Fairview REM station.
Kirkland to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Corridor
Enhanced service characterizes changes across multiple West Island communities:
- Lines 200 and 211 receive increased departure frequencies
- Line 211 shifts its terminus from John Abbott College to the Kirkland REM station, creating a direct link to Lionel Groulx métro
- Line 411 maintains its route with boosted service levels
- Line 419 elimination offset by new Lines 210 and 229 providing improved REM connectivity
- Collective taxi service expands in Ste-Anne, Senneville, and Baie-D'Urfé
Central Montreal Enhancements
Town of Mount-Royal, Outremont, and Côte-des-Neiges receive targeted improvements:
- New Line 155 connects Darlington and Wilderton Avenues to both Édouard-Montpetit and Canora REM stations
- Line 92 extends from Namur to serve Westbury development, Royalmount sector, and local industries, terminating at De la Savane station
- Line 161 receives off-peak frequency increases with stop modifications for improved timing
- Line 160 extends to serve Côte-St-Luc near Décarie Square with Canora REM station connections
Public Tools and Planning Resources
The STM has developed an online simulation tool allowing users to compare current travel patterns with the new network configuration. This digital resource enables Montrealers to visualize how their commutes will transform with the integrated REM and bus system, providing valuable planning information ahead of the spring implementation.
This comprehensive network redesign represents a forward-looking approach to urban mobility, positioning Montreal's transit system for greater efficiency, resilience, and user convenience as the city's light-rail network continues to expand.
