With the extension of the blue line getting under way, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is already ready for new projects in the west with the inauguration of a brand new garage, located about 1.5 km from the Côte-Vertu terminus.
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“In anticipation of a future extension to Bois-Franc, we made two tunnel starters. They are concreted and already ready to begin the excavation of tunnels,” revealed Leila Britel, project director at the STM.
Two new stations could thus see the light of day, if the government gives its agreement. In May, the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel, had already announced the establishment of a project office to study the establishment of a “structuring” mode of transport in the axis of the orange line of the metro.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
“We will wait for the studies, but we want a connection to the REM station. It’s a minimum, ”claimed the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante.
Almost completed, the new garage should welcome its first trains towards the end of August. It becomes the fifth facility of its kind, the others being located near the Angrignon, Honoré-Beaugrand, Montmorency and Henri-Bourassa stations.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
Ten parking spaces for metro trains are therefore created on the west side of the orange line, allowing the STM to establish a balance between the two ends. The place will also make it possible to carry out the maintenance of the trains at a workshop, as well as to clean them.
Its presence will make it possible to increase the frequency of trains by 25% at rush hour. In terms of minutes, the waiting time for users will therefore drop from two and a half minutes to two minutes.
The official inauguration took place on Friday morning, in the presence of representatives of the governments of Quebec and Canada and the mayor of Montreal.