Groundbreaking ceremony held for Montréal airport REM station
A plan to allow passengers to move between downtown Montréal and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in about 20 minutes took a big step forward on July 19 with a groundbreaking ceremony of the future Réseau express métropolitain (REM) station at YUL.
"We are delighted to begin construction of the REM station. For over 25 years, we have been waiting for our international airport to be connected to downtown Montréal by an efficient rail link,” said Philippe Rainville, president and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal (ADM). “This structuring project is the first step in an ambitious redevelopment of our access infrastructures that will enable us not only to respond adequately to the growth of passenger traffic at YUL, but also to improve the inter-modality of the airport site to make it more accessible for the benefit of travelers, as well as to put an end [to] road congestion challenges."
ADM will invest more than C$2.5 billion (US$1.91 billion) into the cityside development program, for which the YUL REM station is a part of. The program is one of the largest private infrastructure projects in Québec and includes rebuilding the multi-level parking complex and the drop-off/pick-up zones at YUL to triple the capacity and a new underground space, YULtransit, where modes of public transport will converge.
The first REM metro car is expected to enter the station in 2023. ADM is investing C$250 million (US$190.69 million) into the station portion of the program. The YUL station will be constructed under the multi-level parking complex at a depth of 35 meters (114.8 feet).
"Today, we are starting to build a new gateway to our metropolis and marking an important step in the realization of the REM,” said Macky Tall, president and CEO of CDPQ Infra. “In just a few years, Quebecers will have access to an extensive, reliable and frequent transportation network to get to the airport, regardless of traffic. For visitors, this will be a new, fast and efficient link to the heart of the city's activities on modern metro cars with a unique view of the city."
To support execution of the work, ADM has awarded the project management contract to a consortium composed of firms with specialized expertise: Pomerleau, SNC-Lavalin and Kiewit (PSK Construction). ADM explains that as partners of the program, they will be mandated to identify opportunities for optimizing the schedule and phasing of the work while ensuring that impacts on passenger service are minimized.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
