Montreal
UMR Index
Score: 60.2%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 53.7%
Public Transit
Score: 51.5%
| Population | 4.0 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,383 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 2,898 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 35,515 |
What Montreal Does Well in Urban Mobility
Montreal is home to a strong multimodal public transit system known for its affordable fares. The city is currently building five new metro stations and two bus terminals that are expected to be completed in 2030.
Montreal's roadways are world class with a commitment to safety, maintenance, and efficient traffic management. Quebec’s 2028 safety plan reportedly aims to reduce speed limits to 30 kilometers per hour (20 miles per hour) in school zones.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
Challenges and Opportunities for Montreal’s Transportation System
Montreal's airport is not an international hub, with relatively low passenger volumes and international connections. The airport chose not to build an additional runway as part of a 2037 plan due to lower passenger volumes post-pandemic.
The city is not home to a thriving active mobility sector with challenges stemming from a lack of dedicated infrastructure for walkers and cyclists. However, Montreal is building 191 kilometers (118 miles) worth of bike lanes that are expected to be completed by 2027.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Montreal Can Improve Its Public Transportation and Sustainable Mobility
With over half of Montreal's trips done via personal cars, the city lags in personal car ownership with New Yorkers owning an average of 2.5 fewer cars than Montreal residents. The city has reportedly already taken some steps to limit its car usage, including seasonal car-free streets and a plan to remove cars from parts of Old Montreal in 2024. It can expand these initiatives even further, with year-round closures, limiting parking, or more car-free areas. Previously mentioned cycling infrastructure plans show progress but expanding bike-sharing and heightening traffic enforcement would further support cyclists.
Many residents are faced with lengthy walks to metro stations and bus stops. Montreal can add routes and stops for buses to help connect residents with metro stations and other destinations — a cost effective improvement that would help lower walking distances and overall commute times. In the long term, extending existing metro lines and adding new line options – as it is currently doing – will be key, but that effort will be a time-intensive and expensive undertaking.