City Continues Transit Improvements
As Vice President of the STM, it was my pleasure recently to appear before the Agglomeration Council’s Finance Commission particularly as the news we had to offer was good.
The Tremblay Union Montreal administration, with the support of the on island suburbs, this year is boosting the recurrent subsidy from the Agglo Council to the STM to $359.4 million from $332 million. This is an increase of $27.4 million or 8.3% an is the highest amount subsidy ever to public transit from the municipality. The STM will use this money to add $32 million in new bus service in 2010.
This support provides 33% of the STM’s $1.090 billion budget. Costs actually paid by riders through the fare box are 46%. In Toronto, riders pay 80%. Union Montreal has taken a political decision to keep fares affordability so as to stimulate ridership and cut traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
The strategy is working. In 2009, despite a deep recession, the STM carried 382.5 million riders, the most since 1949. Since 2007, the STM has augmented metro service by 17% (not counting the Laval extension), added 6.5% more bus service and gained 5.5% more riders. We believe we will boost ridership again in 2010.
The big challenge in Montreal is the need to replace the older subway cars and the older buses while increasing the size of the bus fleet. The STM will have to spend $2 billion in the next 3 years on capital improvements. This increases our debt and we need new sources of revenue to manage this.
The Government of Quebec needs to identify how we will obtain these funds. Efficient transit is a societal choice requiring a societal solution. The costs to boost services and replace old vehicles outstrip the capacity of island taxpayers to afford through property taxes.
The Charest Government has endorsed the Copenhagen objectives to fight climate change and made public transit a key priority in its strategy. However, where the funding will come from on a dedicated, indexed and recurrent basis have not yet been identified. It is vital that finance minister Raymond Bachand address this in February’s provincial budget.
This year, the STM is raising its monthly pass from $68.50 to $70. This will produce an additional $6 million for the STM and will go directly into the $32 million more in improved services that I mentioned above.
The STM recently carried out a survey of 2010 transit fares elsewhere in North America. We were very proud to have confirmed that we not only provide top notch service but also have among the most affordable fares.
Below Pinoy Post readers will find a comparison of a regular monthly STM pass for 2010 versus other transit agencies fare.
The STM Board will continue its meetings in public and those wishing to make representations can do so. The next meeting is February 3 at 5:30 PM at Place Bonaventure.
Quebec
STM – $70
Laval -$78
Longueuil – $81
Quebec – $71.55
Gatineau – $77
Elsewhere in Canada
Ottawa – $84.75
Toronto – $121
Brampton – $102
Mississauga – $107
Oakville – $88
Hamilton – $87
Sudbury – $70
Windsor – $79
London – $81
Vancouver – $99
Calgary – $85.25
Edmonton – $81.50
Winnipeg – $74
Halifax – $85
Saint John – $65
St. John’s – $70
Regina – $59
United States (exchange rate $1 US = $1.07 CAD)
New York – $95.27
Chicago – $92.05
Philadelphia – $83.49
Dallas – $80.28
San Francisco – $74.53
Miami – $107.04
Portland – $92.05
Seattle – $86.70
Boston – $63.15
Los Angeles – $66.36 (limited zones)
