The Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) 31 bus lines with frequent service will be grouped together under the new name of high-frequency lines. In addition, the 31 lines will be marked in purple to make it easier for customers to find them within the network. The color will also be used on customer information tools so the nearest high-frequency line can be found at a glance. The more than 200 lines of the STM bus network cover all 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) of the Island of Montréal and the 31 high-frequency lines alone account for more than 50 percent of current ridership.
The STM has begun working to update the bus stop signs on the affected lines with the new color. The STM website and the mobile apps are already using it and network maps will be updated in spring 2024.
“What our customers value most is frequent bus service, which is why we want to make these lines stand out from the rest of the network,” said Éric Alan Caldwell, chair of the STM Board of Directors. “As with the Métro, customers using these high-frequency lines don’t need to plan their trip down to the minute. They can just turn up at the corner and know that the next bus will be there in a few minutes. With their high ridership and wide geographic coverage, these high-frequency lines are the backbone of our bus network, providing service where customers need it most. The new distinctive color of these lines will make it easier for customers to find their way, both on the street and when planning their trips online.”
High-frequency lines
The following nine lines offer frequent service (roughly every two to 12 minutes) all day, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, in both directions:
- 18 Beaubien
- 24 Sherbrooke
- 51 Édouard-Montpetit
- 67 Saint-Michel
- 105 Sherbrooke
- 121 Sauvé/Côte-Vertu
- 141 Jean-Talon
- 165 Côte-des-Neiges
- 439 Express Pie-IX
The following 22 lines offer frequent service (roughly every two to 12 minutes) during rush hour, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the busier direction:
- 32 Lacordaire
- 33 Langelier
- 44 Armand-Bombardier
- 45 Papineau
- 48 Perras
- 49 Maurice-Duplessis
- 55 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
- 64 Grenet
- 69 Gouin
- 80 Avenue du Parc
- 90 Saint-Jacques
- 97 Avenue-du-Mont-Royal
- 103 Monkland
- 136 Viau
- 161 Van Horne
- 171 Henri-Bourassa
- 187 René-Lévesque
- 193 Jarry
- 196 Parc-Industriel-Lachine
- 197 Rosemont
- 406 Express Newman
- 470 Express Pierrefonds
As part of the bus network redesign project, STM notes the list of high-frequency lines will be gradually expanded to better serve as many Montrealers as possible and provide better access to high-traffic areas.
Ridership and service improvements
Ridership on the bus network is increasing. It is up 14 percent compared to the same period in 2022 and has reached 78 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The recovery in ridership is also slightly stronger on the bus network than on the Métro network.
In response to the increase, in August, the STM said it would deliver its budgeted bus service. The budgeted bus service represents a three percent increase in level of service compared to fall 2022, with additional departures on approximately 75 bus lines. There will be more than 30 extra departures on some lines to serve the increasing number of employers requiring staff to return to the office and students returning to the network for the start of the school year.
Communications campaign
The STM has launched a communications campaign across the Island of Montréal, with a geo-targeted focus on lines 51, 165, 67 and 121, four flagship lines with high ridership and wide geographic coverage. The campaign uses a combination of digital and social media, Métro and bus network signage and digital displays in restaurants, bars, residences and shopping centers. It will feature the high-frequency lines to promote the STM bus network and its services. The campaign will also be rolled out across the STM’s digital platforms and newsletter.
