User satisfaction with the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) has increased since its first line opened in the summer of 2023, preliminary results from a survey by Transportation Research at McGill (TRAM) indicate.
Since 2019, TRAM has been conducting a longitudinal study on the REM. Preliminary results indicate that among the close to 1,700 REM users who participated in the survey this fall:
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Satisfaction with the service increased to 79 per cent from 75 per cent in 2023;
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56 per cent of REM users believe the new light rail is well integrated in the region's network;
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43 per cent of reported REM trips were commute trips to school and work;
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On bus shuttles during REM breakdowns:
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48 per cent of users have taken these services, of whom 42 per cent are dissatisfied with the shuttles compared to 28 per cent who are satisfied.
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Parking around REM stations:
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61 per cent of users have used the available parking;
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55 per cent are satisfied with the amount of parking compared to 28 per cent who are dissatisfied.
"It's encouraging to see users' satisfaction increase as the service smoothed out during the first year of operation," said Meredith Alousi-Jones, a graduate student co-leading the study.
The survey of REM users is part of a broader study of public transit use in the Montreal region. So far this fall, more than 7,500 Montrealers have participated in the fifth wave of TRAM's Montreal Mobility Survey. The preliminary results indicate that 75 per cent of respondents believe the REM to be a good thing for the region and 69 per cent agree that it's good for the environment (a decrease of three and two per cent, respectively, from the levels found in 2023).
REM's impact: Tracking the future
When complete, the REM will alter travel and land-use patterns throughout the Montreal region. These changes are likely to have impacts on the health, social, economic, physical and psychological well-being of all Montreal residents for the coming decades, TRAM researchers say.
The South Shore branch of the REM, operating since summer 2023, now serves an average of 37,000 passengers per weekday. CDPQ Infra recently announced revised opening dates for the Deux-Montagnes and Anse-à-l'Orme branches, now scheduled for fall 2025.
"Now that we have a better idea of the timeline for the future REM branches, it is important to keep track of operations and perceptions of its users," said Rodrigo Victoriano-Habit, a graduate research assistant co-leading the study.
Final findings from the fifth wave of the survey will be published in a report on the TRAM website in summer 2025, which will be communicated to public-transit agencies and policy-makers in Montreal.
This research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Participate in the survey
Residents of the Greater Montreal Area who are interested in participating in the fifth wave of the Montreal Mobility Survey are invited to share their views before Dec. 4, 2024, by clicking on the following link: www.mobility-montreal.ca.
