The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has commissioned a new elevator at McGill station, allowing access to the Angrignon platform from the street. By combining this elevator with the one connecting the mezzanine to the Honoré-Beaugrand platform, which was commissioned last fall, the station officially becomes the 26th station in the Metro network to be universally accessible.
With tourist season fast approaching for the STM, the newly accessible station will benefit not only customers with limited mobility, but also older adults, families with young children and travellers looking to enjoy the many attractions of downtown Montréal. It will also be a future accessible transfer point with the REM station currently under construction.
“The commissioning of the elevators at McGill station is of particular significance to the STM, as this is one of the busiest stations in the network,” says Éric Alan Caldwell, chair of the STM Board of Directors. “The new elevators are bringing accessibility to one of the province’s biggest hubs of business, culture, tourism and education, and we at the STM see it as another way of contributing to the revival of downtown.”
The accessibility work, which began in 2020, was part of a larger overhaul of the station. In addition to installing the two elevators, the project involved replacing the waterproofing system covering the station’s underground roof, renovating three of the six existing entrance buildings, improving natural ventilation and constructing an entirely new entrance building. The new built entrance building houses the elevator that connects the station to street level. It was built because the existing entrance buildings were too narrow to accommodate this type of infrastructure.
With a C$58.4 million (US$43.5 million) price tag, the work was completed within budget and was made possible by funding from the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec.
The work comes on the heels of another series of maintenance projects undertaken to revamp the entire station over the last 10 years, including the restoration of the station’s existing artwork, electrical systems, ventilation systems, train platforms, wall finishes and lighting, as well as some structural work.
“This essential work is necessary to ensure the Métro network’s longevity and helps provide our customers with a consistently reliable, comfortable and safe transit experience. Well-maintained facilities are the foundation of quality public transit service,” Caldwell said.
