The first day of public service on the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) light rail route was marred by a closure and delays.
After a weekend of fanfare and celebrations, the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) light-rail route opened to the public on Monday, July 30 in Montreal. The new automated, electric light-rail line will serve five stations between Brossard and downtown Montreal’s Central Station with plans for more.
The first day of public service had a major hiccup, however. “But a breakdown put a cramp in the first day the electric light-rail line took paying passengers across the Champlain Bridge,” according to an article by Jason Magder for the Montreal Gazette.
“The problem was caused by a switch that got stuck, so trains were not able to change tracks, REM spokesperson Jean-Vincent Lacroix said.” Magder also reports that three trains were stranded on the Champlain Bridge as service was delayed for 90 minutes. The system worked smoothly over the weekend—120,000 people used the new train route while operating for free over the weekend.
According to a separate article by Antoni Nerestant for the CBC News, the REM is the largest public transit investment in decades for the Montreal region.
“When it's complete, the network will feature 26 stations that span 67 kilometres and connect riders to Montreal's South Shore, the West Island, western Laval and the town of Deux-Montagnes,” explains Nerestant. The first phase, which opened this week, covers the southern portion of the project.
FULL STORY: First day, first delay as REM (sort of) goes into action
Big Light Rail Expansion Planned in Montreal
Montreal officials recently announced details of a major expansion of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).
Maryland to Restart Planning for East-West Transit Line Through Baltimore
A plan for the Red Line, an east-west light rail line notoriously canceled by former-Governor Larry Hogan in 2015, is back on the table in Baltimore.
Newly Opened Regional Connector Redefines Light Rail Transit in Los Angeles
Three rail lines have become two rail lines in Los Angeles, providing one-seat rides from four corners of Los Angeles County.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association