Public transport | “People are confused” by the tariff overhaul

The back-to-school period is always very busy for the employees of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), but this year, they face an even greater challenge due to the overhaul of transit passes, which is causing headaches. heads to users.

Isabelle Ducas
The Press

“People are mixed up,” admits Daniel Cloutier, manager of the Montmorency metro station in Laval. “Because of the redesign, each transaction is longer and more complex than before. People no longer find the tickets they used to find in the vending machine. There are longer lines, more impatience, more aggression towards employees. »

The new tickets have been in effect since 1^er July, but many people, especially students or workers who were working from home, are returning to public transport with the start of the school year.

Monday morning, the STM had therefore added sales stations at Montmorency station, one of the most affected by the changes in force.

For example, he notes, passengers who are unaware of the changes in force buy a $3.50 bus ticket in Laval and then, on arriving at the metro, learn that they must pay $5.25 for a ticket. all modes in zones A and B. Since this type of ticket cannot be purchased on board the bus, they should have purchased their ticket for zones A and B before boarding their bus.

“You have to explain all that with each transaction, it’s long,” notes the station manager.

Another example: users benefiting from a reduced rate (seniors or students) and already holding an Opus card with photo for a zone and who need to change zone must now obtain a new card (free). But producing this map can take up to 10 minutes.

“More than ever, you have to plan your trips upstream and get information before taking public transport”, insists Anne-Marie Roux, director of quality of service to users at the Regional Metropolitan Transport Authority (ARTM) .

Know your area

What are the main changes you need to know about?

The new grid is now based on four zones: the Montréal agglomeration (A), Laval and the Longueuil agglomeration (B), as well as the north and south rims (C and D).

From now on, users no longer have to pay each time they use a different mode of transport in the same area. For example, in Montreal, users can switch at their convenience from bus to metro and train. An “all modes” zone A ticket will also allow you to board the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), when it enters into service.

For users who only want to take the bus, there are tickets available at a lower cost in each zone.

It should be remembered that your ticket must be valid in the zone where your point of departure is located, in the territory of the zones crossed and in the zone where your point of arrival is located.

When traveling between Laval and Montreal, for example, make sure you have a pass that covers both zone A and B. The same situation applies for a trip between Longueuil and Montreal.

If the unit fare within the same zone remains at $3.50, the cost of a passage between zones A and B increases to $5.25. This change was denounced by users, and the ARTM listened to them: on 1^er October, the rate will be readjusted to $4.50.

Monthly or occasional pass options – packages of a few titles or unlimited targeted periods – are still available.

The STM points out that all the information on the new transit passes can be found on its website and on the application. stopwatch, as well as the list of 300 retailers where they can be purchased. “We can therefore plan our purchase in advance, close to home, and avoid the crowds in the stations,” remarked Philippe Déry, spokesperson for the STM.