Montreal calls for better public transportation services for seniors

The Montreal Ensemble and the association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées (AQDR) held a press conference Monday morning at city hall to ask for better public transportation services for the elderly.

The two groups are calling for a public consultation on the mobility needs of the elderly and the expansion of the public taxi service of the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) to the entire population.

“There are more and more seniors in Montreal and they have special needs,” Christine Black, mayor of Montreal-Nord and official opposition spokesperson on public transit and mobility, said in a press release. “They're as diverse as their lifestyles, their commutes and their access to the subway.”

“All this needs to be taken into account in the planning of our public transport services,” he added. “That starts with improving targeted services.”

The Montreal Ensemble explains that two-thirds of the city's 41 metro stations do not have elevators.

In addition, STM's shared taxi service Taxibus is limited. The press release notes that there are only 15 lines, three of which are for seniors: Pointe-Claire, Dorval and Nuns Island.

The official opposition is calling for the service to be expanded to better serve remote areas.

The proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the municipality on May 13, they said.

This measure is necessary because the Navette Or golden age taxis for the elderly have been closed since 2020.

No announcement has been made that they may return.

Montrealers over 65 will soon be able to load Opus cards for free with all modes of the 65 plus A transit fare.

In April, the city released information on free transit for seniors.

The new fare, which goes into effect on July 1, allows seniors to ride public transit for free in Zone A, the Island of Montreal.

“Free public transit for 65-year-olds will meet the needs of some,” Chantal Rossi, Ovid-Clermont County City Councilor and official opposition spokeswoman for seniors, said in a press release Monday. “But not all, old men.”

“If we want to offer a truly accessible city for all, we need to expand shared Navette Or and Taxibus services pending public consultation.”

RELATED: Montreal Offers Free Transit Details for Seniors 65 and Over

Also on Monday, the Montreal ensemble reiterated its call for a “Council of Elders.”

They explained that this will help the city administration to address the needs and concerns of its elderly population, which includes about 350,000 people aged 65 and over.