All about Montréal’s smart mobility and transportation industries

Montréal’s plan for increasing renewable energy use includes a considerable commitment from the transport industry. One of the main commitments is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with the objective of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. The city’s plan — appropriately named the Montréal Climate Plan — names 46 measures toward carbon-neutrality, including the continued adoption of more sustainable modes of transportation such as public transit, walking and cycling.

Québec’s ground transportation industry is a world leader in transport development. Montréal is home to CIRRELT, the largest transportation research centre in the world. There are 170+ companies specialized in electric transportation manufacturing in Québec, and a large pool of highly qualified talents, with 580,000+ jobs in STEM fields and close to 80,000 members registered with Québec’s Order of Engineers.

The province’s organized sector clusters are also working hand-in-hand, including the cluster Écotech Québec, the electric and smart transportation industry cluster Propulsion Québec and Cargo M, the logistics and transportation cluster.

Montréal’s STM public transport system has been ranked among the world’s best by Time Out as well as Corporate Knights for its accessibility, affordability and dependability. A whopping 83 percent of locals said the city is easy to explore via public transit, thanks to a system that’s accessible, well-connected and the best way to stay in relaxed travel mode while taking in the city’s must-sees. 

As an international hotspot in artificial intelligence, Montréal is breaking new ground in the use of AI in transportation, focusing on urban traffic and improved shipping. The Port of Montréal is uses AI in a variety of ways — including to ensure the fluidity of its logistics.

Real change takes concrete dedication, and Montréal’s goal of becoming North America’s top city in progressive mobility is backed by an exciting series of projects.

By 2030, all buses purchased by the Montréal Transit Corporation (STM) will be electric, and by 2040 the entire fleet will be emission-free. Currently they’re beginning a new phase of testing new long-range electric buses.

Scheduled for completion in 2027, an REM light rail line covering 67 km of the metropolitan area will take passengers between Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and downtown in just 20 minutes.

Montréal’s iconic Olympic Stadium and the Espace pour la vie network use a fleet of self-driving EZ10 passenger shuttles to transport the millions of annual visitors who visit the area.

When it comes to smart transport, it’s not all sci-fi. Montréal holds the ranking as North America’s most bike-friendly city, with 1,065 kilometres of bike lanes and paths — 729 km of which are still accessible throughout the winter months too. Additionally, the BIXI bike-sharing network of over 11,000 bikes is available to locals and visitors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from April through November, including the Electric BIXI.

For those who prefer keeping their feet on the ground, the RÉSO network, aka the Underground City, is also the world’s largest of its kind, with over 32 kilometres of linked shops, hotels, restaurants and universities used by over 500,000 people daily.

Montréal is home to a rapidly growing sector of transport innovators and their work is changing the face of how we get from points A to B. Keep your eyes on these organizations: