History of the Metro in Montreal
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| Metro of Montreal today, with date each Line was added |
In 1929, the president of the Tramway stated that the only solution to the Montreal transportation problems would be to create a metro system as it would allow for faster travel and a decrease in traffic.
The project was taken over by the CMT (Commission de Transport de Montréal) in 1951, which was created in the same year. In 1953, the CTM presented a report including a plan to build a metro on October 23, however it did not go through because of a lack of funding and will. By the end of the nineteen-fifties Montreal was experiencing rapid growth in population and size and by the nineteen-sixty elections, the issue of the metro became a political issue.
In 1961, engineers and architects joined together to form the Bureau de Métro to prepare plans, specifications, requests for proposals and construction, and supervision for a metro system in Montreal. Construction began on May 23, 1962. At its highest point there were approximately five thousand people working on the construction of the metro. The initial network was planned to have twenty-six stations and to cover a distance of 25.9 kilometers, it was estimated that this would cost about $213.7 million.
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| Original 1966 Metro Plan |
In October of 1966 twenty out of the twenty six foreseen metro stations were opened to the public. Line 1 (the Green Line today) followed St. Catherine’s street and had stops between Frontenac and Atwater. Line 2 (the Orange Line today) followed St. Denis street and had stops between Henri-Bourassa and Bonaventure. Line 4 had stops between Berri-de-Montigny and Longueuil (the Yellow Line today). Line 3 was planned to have fifteen stations and use the CN tracks as well as the train tunnel under Mount Royal, however this was never constructed as converting this into ametro line would have required too much money, and therefore was never built.
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| Map of Montreal in 2000, foreseen in 1967 |
The Montreal Urban Community was created in 1969 and they became in charge of developing and constructing any extensions to the metro network. In 1970, it was decided that Line 1 would be extended to the east and west and that Line 2 would be extended to the northwest . The proposal was submitted by the Montreal Urban Committee in September. The extension was set to extend Line 1 from Frontenac to Honoré Beaugrand and from Atwater to Angrignon Park. As for Line 2, the extension would be from Bonaventure to rue Paré in Cote-des-Neiges. It was also proposed that a transverse route be created to connect the two sections of Line 2, this would be Line 5 (The Blue Line today).
On October 14, 1971 the work on Line 1 was completed and the work on the Eastern section (towards Honoré Beaugrand) was finished and opened for public use in time for the Montreal Olympics in 1976. The western section was finished by 1978 and the first stations west of Bonaventure were opened in 1980.
In 1979 Quebec City proposed a new plan for the eastern part of the island that was different from the MUC’s. Quebec City wanted to modify Line 5’s path east of St-Michel instead of going through St-Leonard and Montreal North (like MUC had planned in 1973) and it would now go through Anjou. In 1981 the Ministry of Transport of Quebec ratified an agreement with the MUC and agreed to construct a surface metro going east on the CN tracks in return for Quebec paying 100% of the cost.
In the late nineteen-eighties, the Ministry was working on creating a surface metro (Line 6). At the same time, a report recommended extending Line 5 to Anjou by constructing a north-south line (which would be LIne 7). This line would go under boul. Pie-IX towards Montreal North and this would also include the creation of a surface metro from Radisson metro to Pointe-aux-Trembles (which would be Line 8). These have not been accomplished as of yet.
Montreal was the first metro system in the world to use rubber tires.
The Montreal metro system is well known for its artistic metro stations. It has been said that it is the most beautiful metro system in world and it is said to have inspired other beautiful metros such as the one in Brussels. Each of the stations in the system are designed differently and showcase a different style of art. Claude Robillard, the director of urban planning of the City of Montreal in the 1960s is said to have come up with the idea to add an artistic element to the Montreal metro. However, only a few metro stations have lived up to the expectations of Robert La Palme, a good friend of Mayor Jean Drapeau who who played a significant role in the creation of art in the metro. The stations McGill, Berri-UQAM, Papineau, Champ-de-Mars, Crémazie, and Sherbrooke are among the most beautiful ones, which were created according to La Palme's plans. These mark the first period of art in the metro, over the years as new stations were added non-figurative art became the main themes. This is the case for Lasalle, Namur, and Pie-IX.
The Montreal metro system is well known for its artistic metro stations. It has been said that it is the most beautiful metro system in world and it is said to have inspired other beautiful metros such as the one in Brussels. Each of the stations in the system are designed differently and showcase a different style of art. Claude Robillard, the director of urban planning of the City of Montreal in the 1960s is said to have come up with the idea to add an artistic element to the Montreal metro. However, only a few metro stations have lived up to the expectations of Robert La Palme, a good friend of Mayor Jean Drapeau who who played a significant role in the creation of art in the metro. The stations McGill, Berri-UQAM, Papineau, Champ-de-Mars, Crémazie, and Sherbrooke are among the most beautiful ones, which were created according to La Palme's plans. These mark the first period of art in the metro, over the years as new stations were added non-figurative art became the main themes. This is the case for Lasalle, Namur, and Pie-IX.
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| Station Berri-UQAM |
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| Station Champ-de-Mars |
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| Station Lasalle |
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| Station Namur |
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| Station McGill |
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| Station Pie IX |
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| Station Place-des-Arts Timeline of Montreal Metro History |
1910
- Montreal Street Railway Company studied the possibility of constructing a metro
1929
- The president of the Tramway stated the a metro system would reduce traffic
- The president of the Tramway stated the a metro system would reduce traffic
1951
- CTM takes over the metro project
- CTM takes over the metro project
1953
- The CTM presented a report including a metro plan, but it did not pass because of a lack in funds and will.
- The CTM presented a report including a metro plan, but it did not pass because of a lack in funds and will.
1960
- Elections made the metro a political issue
- Elections made the metro a political issue
1961
- Engineers and architects joined the Bureau de Métro to prepare plans, specifications, requests for proposals and construction, and supervision.
- Engineers and architects joined the Bureau de Métro to prepare plans, specifications, requests for proposals and construction, and supervision.
1962
- On May 23, 1962 construction began
- On May 23, 1962 construction began
1966
- October 14, 1966, twenty out of the twenty six of the foreseen stations were opened to the public
- October 14, 1966, twenty out of the twenty six of the foreseen stations were opened to the public
1969
- Montreal Urban Community created and they became in charge of development and construction of extensions to the network
- Montreal Urban Community created and they became in charge of development and construction of extensions to the network
1970
- An extension was proposed by the MUC. The extension was set to extend Line 1 from Frontenac to Honoré Beaugrand and from Atwater to Angrignon Park,Line 2, the extension from Bonaventure to rue Paré in Cote-des-Neiges. It was also proposed that a route be created to connect the two sections of Line 2.
- An extension was proposed by the MUC. The extension was set to extend Line 1 from Frontenac to Honoré Beaugrand and from Atwater to Angrignon Park,Line 2, the extension from Bonaventure to rue Paré in Cote-des-Neiges. It was also proposed that a route be created to connect the two sections of Line 2.
1976
- Eastern section of Line 1 opened to the public in time for the Olympics
- Eastern section of Line 1 opened to the public in time for the Olympics
1978
- Western section of Line 1 opened to the public
- Western section of Line 1 opened to the public
1979
- Quebec City proposed a new plan for Line 5 in its “Plan de Transport Intégré de la Région de Montréal” extending it through Anjou.
- Quebec City proposed a new plan for Line 5 in its “Plan de Transport Intégré de la Région de Montréal” extending it through Anjou.
1980
- First stations added to Line 2 west of Bonaventure opened to the public
- First stations added to Line 2 west of Bonaventure opened to the public
1981
- Ministry of Transport of Quebec ratified an agreement with the MUC and they would cover 100% of the costs to create Line 6 if it was along the CN tracks
The following is a link to Montreal Metro trivia, it contains many interesting facts about the metro:
http://www.metrodemontreal.com/faq/index.html
- Ministry of Transport of Quebec ratified an agreement with the MUC and they would cover 100% of the costs to create Line 6 if it was along the CN tracks
The following is a link to Montreal Metro trivia, it contains many interesting facts about the metro:
http://www.metrodemontreal.com/faq/index.html
References:
Metro de Montreal, http://www.metrodemontreal.com/faq/index.html, accessed November 15, 2010
Metro de Montreal, http://www.metrodemontreal.com/history/index.html, accessed November 15, 2010
http://www.subways.net/canada/montreal.htm, accessed November 10, 2010.
Metro de Montreal, http://www.metrodemontreal.com/faq/index.html, accessed November 15, 2010
Metro de Montreal, http://www.metrodemontreal.com/history/index.html, accessed November 15, 2010
http://www.subways.net/canada/montreal.htm, accessed November 10, 2010.
