After free public transit for seniors, the Mayor of Montreal is considering the idea of modulating the price of the service according to the socioeconomic situation of users.
Montreal is also working with the Regional Metropolitan Transport Authority (ARTM) for this purpose.
“We believe in social pricing,” explained Valérie Plante on Monday before the Montreal city council. “We should think of it as a collective contribution for the most vulnerable or those who are less well off. »
Social pricing for public transport is already in force in several European cities. In the province, the City of Quebec decided this spring to grant a 33% discount on subscriptions to the Réseau de transport de la capital (RTC) to all its low-income citizens.
“It’s a discussion that we set up and to which we adhere,” said M.me Plant. “You have to think on the scale of all the zones. […] Social pricing should not be limited to the island of Montreal. »
The mayoress was speaking in the context of the adoption, by Montreal’s elected officials, of free public transit for citizens aged 65 and over in the metropolis. This measure – a Project Montreal commitment in the last election – will cost the City of Montreal approximately $40 million.