Greater Montreal’s public transit manager, exo, is expected to have its own fleet of electric buses by 2027, thanks to a $338 million investment from the Quebec government.
• Read also: 8 activities accessible by public transport to do in Montreal and its surroundings
• Read also: RTC: Marchand hopes rate hike will be ‘the last’
Exo is the organization responsible for public transit in the north and south crowns of Greater Montreal. Currently, however, its bus services are outsourced to private carriers while it does not have its own fleet. This point will be subject to change.
The first phase of the project provides for the acquisition of “up to” 152 buses and the construction of two maintenance garages. Ultimately, for 2040, exo is aiming for 1,000 electric buses, which will be maintained in 10 garages.
“All exo activities related to bus services are currently contracted out to private carriers. Each of them is the owner of his fleet”, explained the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel.
He indicated that the situation made it difficult to electrify the buses, since it would have required investments that these carriers would not necessarily have been able to assume. “The solution was needed,” declared Mr. Bonnardel, who made the announcement during a benefit dinner in the Montreal region.
“Citizens and crown municipalities will have access to electric mobility, like citizens of other large municipalities,” said Sylvain Yelle, CEO of exo.
Currently, exo operates more than 600 buses in the two crowns of Montreal.
“Electrification for us does not change much. It’s always a good thing, but it’s especially that exo will have a fleet, the big news. I think it will help in terms of service reliability,” noted Sarah V. Doyon, General Manager of Trajectoire Québec.
She recalls that currently, exo has less control, since the company must go through intermediaries.
Financial framework
Mr. Bonnardel also announced that he will work with public transit partners to establish a financial framework that will cover a period of five years, from 2023 to 2028. This was a request from the municipal sector.
“We want to respond to a request from the municipal sector and offer more predictability, especially in the context where the pandemic has profoundly upset this sector,” explained Mr. Bonnardel.
He indicates that the government is working on a financing project, the details of which will be forthcoming.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com