My Alerts Montréal, June 7, 2012 – With representatives from the Québec government and the disabled community in attendance, Michel Labrecque, STM Board Chairman, and Marie Turcotte, paratransit users’ representative, today presented the STM’s 2012 – 2015 Universal Access Development Plan.
The STM introduced its door-to-door paratransit service more than 30 years ago in order to ensure the mobility of transit users with functional limitations. Then, in 1991, it implemented an action plan for the purpose of promoting universal access for the disabled throughout its bus and metro network. Since 1991, the number of measures taken to that end has multiplied and more than 150 million dollars have so far been invested in projects or measures related to universal accessibility.
‘ With its universal access policy of 2009, the STM took another step in its commitment to promote and encourage universal access in every area of its operations, within the scope of the resources at its disposal, ’ indicated Michel Labrecque.
‘ The universal access development plan we are making public today isn’t a one-sided policy. On the contrary ! It is the result of numerous consultations with disabled community representatives, every step of the way. This plan is part of the STM ongoing efforts to make its transit network ever more accessible by all. And, in that respect, on behalf of my fellow Board members, I would like to draw attention to the energies expended by STM upper management and employees toward promoting accessible means of transportation,’ added Marie Turcotte.
The 2012-2015 universal access development plan calls for new, universally-accessible métro cars, an improved public address system in all stations, new accessible bus shelters, the installation of textured warning tiles along the edge of train platforms and the retrofitting of five métro stations, bringing the number of accessible stations to 13 by 2017. In all, more than 87 million dollars will be invested in making the STM’s network more universally accessible.
Moreover, the Chairman also explained that ‘ because of the investments needed to maintain the métro system in good working order and the high cost of installing elevators inside existing métro stations, the STM currently does not have either the human or financial resources to add more than one elevator on average per year. Accelerating the pace of elevator installations in existing stations would, however, be possible, even desirable, should the STM receive additional, dedicated funding from the Government of Québec.’
‘ With this in mind, the STM, the City of Montréal and RUTA (Regroupement des usagers du transport adapté et accessible de l’île de Montréal) have recently joined together to ask the Government of Québec to introduce a new assistance program specifically for universal accessibility in the regular public transit network in Montréal,’ concluded Michel Labrecque.
In this regard, RUTA's president, Mr. Jean-Marie Grenier, emphasized that "the organization favorably endorses the 2012-2015 Universal accessibility development plan released today, and supports the STM's appeal to obtain dedicated funding for universal accessibility from the government."
The 2012 - 2015 Universal Access Development Plan is available (in French only) on the STM website at this address: http://www.stm.info/en-bref/PlanAccessibilité_2012-15.pdf
– 30 –
