My Alerts Québec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Robert Poëti, Montréal Executive Committee member responsible for transportation, Aref Salem, and STM Board Chairman, Philippe Schnobb, today announced that three elevators at Jean-Talon station on the Orange line are now fully operational.
Montréal, June 9, 2015 – Québec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Robert Poëti, Montréal Executive Committee member responsible for transportation, Aref Salem, and STM Board Chairman, Philippe Schnobb, today announced that three elevators at Jean-Talon station on the Orange line are now fully operational.
« The $4.5 million dollar contribution by the Government of Québec, for the elevators in Jean-Talon station, helps those with reduced mobility have access to the public bus and métro network, making it possible for them to enjoy more freedom and self-reliance with regards to their transportation. Universal access is one of our administration’s concerns, and we intend to continue with our joint efforts to provide access to all users, » said the minister.
« Installing elevators at Jean-Talon station will help raise the level of service from our public transportation infrastructure, while responding to the needs of more and more Montrealers. These amenities make public transit even more appealing, which is consistent with our efforts toward an active and sustainable city », added Mr. Salem.
« Making the métro system universally accessible will help us meet the growing demand from all population groups: wheelchair users, the elderly, parents with a child in a stroller, and others, said Mr. Schnobb. Although it raises issues and technical challenges, we are moving forward with retrofitting our stations with elevators, and our work schedule calls for 17 fully accessible stations by 2020. »
This station was chosen for the elevator installation because it matches with the main selection criteria in the STM’s universal accessibility development plan for 2012-2015. Specifically, Jean-Talon station:
- has strong ridership (nearly 5 million people used the station in 2014);
- serves as a transfer point between lines;
- is on the Orange line, where the other elevators are located.
The work began in May 2013 and, at a cost of $9 M funded by the Building Canada Plan for 30% and by the Government of Québec for 52.5%, has served to expand the entryway at 430 Jean-Talon Est so that elevator shafts and mechanical rooms could be built. Now in service, the elevators can be used by all customers during the métro’s normal hours.
Nine stations are now universally accessible on the Orange line: Montmorency, de la Concorde, Cartier, Henri-Bourassa, Berri-UQAM, Lionel-Groulx, Côte-Vertu, Champ-de-Mars and Jean-Talon. More work is currently underway at Snowdon and Rosemont stations. The STM is aiming to have 17 universally accessible stations by 2020 (Place-d’Armes, Mont-Royal, Honoré-Beaugrand, Place-des-Arts, Berri-UQAM (Green line) and Vendôme stations will join the ranks).
New artwork
Furthermore, as part of the retrofit work at Jean-Talon station and in accordance with the Québec government’s 1% policy, a work of art will be installed inside the expanded entryway by the end of September. Aptly-named Correspondances, the photomontage offers a perspective on history, architecture and the colour scheme of its surroundings. Created by Yann Pocreau, the work won a public art competition, with a seven-member jury specifically gathered for the selection process.
Photos
Click on thumbnail to download full-scale image
-30-
Amélie Régis
Affaires publiques – STM
514 280-5508
amelie.regis@stm.info