Only half of Montreal metro stations have elevators, reduced mobility advocates unimpressed

Advocates would like more funding and work done to ensure that all Montreal metros have elevators for those with reduced mobility.

Advocates for people with limited mobility are calling out the lack of proper access in Montreal’s metro system, where less than half of the stations have elevators

Montreal’s public transit authority (STM) announced that elevators for those with reduced mobility were installed at the Atwater metro station, the 30th of 68 stations to have elevators.

“People with disabilities have the right to access the metro,” said Ex Aequo general director Marie Turcotte. “It’s necessary for people in wheelchairs. A lift in the metro is currently activated an average of 700 times a day.”

The STM said that Quebec is slashing $258 million in maintenance funding over the next three years.

Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault said in response that $14.5 billion from Quebec goes to public transportation, which includes money to maintain STM infrastructure.

In October, the advocacy group for people with mobility disabilities, Ex Aequo, expressed outrage at Quebec’s decision to stop funding the purchase and installation of new elevators in Montreal’s metro system.

STM board of directors chair Alan Caldwell said the organization is “stalled” in funding any new elevators.

 “To build some more, we will need more funding and we’re waiting for that,” said Caldwell. “It need love. It needs money to make sure it will be as good for the future generation that it was for the previous.”

Ex Aequo pointed out that it is not only people using wheelchairs who use elevators, but also seniors, pregnant people, parents with children using strollers and others.

Caldwell said the situation has improved on Montreal’s metros, but that more elevators are needed, and that requires funding.

“Often we have to excavate it and dig a new a new hole and build a new foundation for to install an elevator,” he said.