The STM unveiled new accessible entrances to the Champ-de-Mars metro station Tuesday, a move that while some applaud, others say can’t come soon enough.
With the installation of three new elevators, including one linking to an underground passage leading to the new CHUM superhospital, the Champ-de-Mars station near Old Montreal now becomes the eighth fully accessible station out of 68 in Montreal’s system.
“It’s going to be a lot easier for people with reduced mobility to travel inside of Montreal at the time they want, at the hour they want, and using the metro,” said Quebec Transport Minister Robert Poeti.
Some, however, say that reality will only come true when all metro stations are accessible.
Marie Turcotte is one of those people. An STM board member and a wheelchair user, she said a fully accessible transit system would give her a whole new level of freedom, compared to how she has to organize herself right now, using the adapted transit system that requires reservations at least 24 hours in advance.
“You can't be spontaneous. Everything has to be planned. If the whole metro were accessible, it would make people with mobility challenges much more autonomous,” she said. “If we could use public transport, it would allow me to be spontaneous, and just decide to go to the movies one night for example.”
The city acknowledges that metro accessibility has been too long in coming, but has committed to moving forward at a faster rate.
As for the cost, the city said making a single metro station accessible depends on the station's location and existing infrastructure.
“It’s around $15 million and it’s paid 75 per cent with the government of Quebec and 25 per cent by the STM,” said city executive committee member Aref Salem.
Within the next two years, the STM plans to make four more metro stations accessible, beginning with Jean-Talon early next year, and Snowdon, Rosemont and Place D'Armes by the end of 2016.
