The Montreal transit service, Exo, is facing job cuts and potential service reductions as it grapples with financial challenges in Quebec’s public transportation sector. Exo plans to trim its workforce by 11%, or 73 jobs, and is bracing for future budget cuts that could impact its services. Despite efforts to optimize its operations, Exo is struggling to meet its cost-saving targets without affecting the quality of its services. Other transit agencies in the Montreal area are also facing similar financial pressures, with the need to balance increasing operating costs and revenue constraints.
As Montreal’s transit ridership slowly rebounds from the pandemic-related disruptions, agencies like Exo and the Société de transport de Montréal are under pressure to make significant cost savings while addressing growing demands for security, paratransit services, and infrastructure maintenance. The STM, Montreal’s main transit agency, recently announced job cuts and budget adjustments to align with its cost-saving goals. However, challenges remain in meeting infrastructure maintenance needs and upgrading aging fleets, which could impact service quality in the future.
Transit advocacy groups in Quebec are calling for more equitable funding for public transit, highlighting the disparity in investment between road infrastructure and public transportation. They argue that sustained underinvestment in public transit could lead to service reductions and impact the overall mobility options for residents in the Montreal region. Retired urbanism professor Paul Lewis emphasizes the importance of adequately funding public transit to meet the growing transportation needs in Quebec and ensure sustainable mobility options for the community.
