Seeks $560 million per year, up from an average of $240 million per year that is forecast to be spent over the next decade.
In a unanimous resolution passed on Monday, city council called on the province to increase its financing of public transit maintenance so that it reaches $560 million per year, up from an average of $240 million per year that is forecast to be spent over the next decade.
The STM closed the three easternmost stations on the Blue Line on Oct. 3 after degraded concrete was found in the St-Michel station in a strategic support beam just above the walkway leading to the station’s platforms. While the Fabre and Iberville stations were reopened six days later, the St-Michel station, which is used by 26,000 travellers daily, remained closed on Monday.
Speaking in council chambers Monday, Sophie Mauzerolle, the Plante administration point person for infrastructure, said the situation is becoming urgent, as the STM has estimated it needs $6 billion in order to make up its maintenance deficit.
“We can no longer accept the underfinancing of the métro network’s maintenance operations,” Mauzerolle said.
The city’s opposition agreed with the Plante administration.
“Elected officials are right to ask for more money from the higher levels of government for maintenance, but the reality is that these demands can easily be ignored, and we have seen this in the past already,” Ensemble Montréal leader Aref Salem said.