Montreal transit fares to rise 5.3% on July 1, monthly pass hits $110

Key facts

• Monthly pass for Montreal island (Zone A) rises to $110 from $104.50, a 5.3% increase.
• Zone AB pass (including Laval and Longueuil) increases to $170 from $164.50.
• Zone ABC pass (outer suburbs) increases to $206 from $200.50.
• No increase for single-ride tickets; average indexation held at 3%.
• Transitional REM tickets for South Shore removed as of July 1.
• Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada calls the hike unacceptable given service degradation.
• ARTM Director General Benoît Gendron cites cost-of-living pressures and need for network sustainability.
• Transit agencies committed to $155.8 million in savings by 2028 to avoid service cuts.

Lede: A 5.3% fare hike for Montreal island commuters

Taking the metro and bus on the island of Montreal will cost 5.3% more starting July 1, 2026, as the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) unveiled its new fare grid for 2026-2027 on Friday. The monthly “Tous modes” pass for Zone A, covering the entire island, jumps to $110 from $104.50. The increase is the largest among the region’s zones, hitting the majority of public transit users.

Zone-by-zone breakdown and single-ride freeze

For Zone AB, which includes Laval and Longueuil, the monthly subscription rises to $170 from $164.50. In Zone ABC, encompassing the outer suburbs, the price climbs to $206 from $200.50. Proportionally, island residents bear the heaviest burden. However, as in the previous year, the ARTM has frozen single-ride ticket prices, a move likely to please occasional users. The average indexation across all fares is held at 3%, the minimum threshold set by the 2025-2028 financing strategy signed with the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) and the Quebec government.

ARTM defends decision amid cost-of-living pressures

The ARTM stated it aims to “limit the impact on users while ensuring responsible financial management and quality of services.” Director General Benoît Gendron acknowledged the strain on households: “We are fully aware of the impact of annual indexation in a context where the cost of living exerts significant pressure on families. Our priority is to preserve the accessibility of public transit, on which citizens rely every day, while ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the network.” The agency’s board chose the 3% target to balance user affordability with long-term network health.

Mayor Martinez Ferrada condemns hike as service quality declines

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada reacted sharply, calling the increase unacceptable. “It is unacceptable to ask Montrealers to pay more while service quality deteriorates,” she said. She called for stable, predictable funding with major investments from both provincial and federal governments, expressing hope for a quick agreement. The mayor’s criticism echoes long-standing user complaints about rising fares without corresponding improvements in metro or bus frequency.

End of transitional REM tickets on South Shore

The new fare grid also marks the end of transitional tickets for the REM on the South Shore, introduced in 2023 to ease the shift for users of the Champlain Bridge corridor. As of July 1, South Shore REM riders must purchase standard Tous modes tickets or bus passes. All special tickets, including the 10-trip pass and the monthly Transit RTL/REM pass, will be withdrawn. This move completes the integration of REM fares into the regional system.

Background: Past fare controversies and financial fragility

The ARTM’s fare overhauls have sparked discontent in recent years, with users denouncing steady price increases amid stagnant service frequency. In 2022, the agency reversed course, reducing prices on many tickets under pressure from mayors Catherine Fournier and Stéphane Boyer to narrow the gap with older single-ride fares. The financial context remains precarious: one-third of transit revenue comes from users, with the rest from government and municipal contributions or taxes. Last year, Montreal-area transit societies and the ARTM committed to $155.8 million in savings by 2028 to avert service cuts. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) alone aims to cut $100 million in recurring expenses over that period.

Expert doubts free transit as solution

Pierre Barrieau, a lecturer at the Université de Montréal and a transportation planning expert, discussed the fare increase on radio host Philippe Cantin’s show. He argued that making transit completely free is not the answer to boosting ridership, though he did not offer an alternative. His comments underscore the broader debate over how to make public transit more attractive without overburdening users or the system’s finances.

The bottom line

• Montreal island monthly pass rises 5.3% to $110 on July 1, 2026; single-ride fares unchanged.
• Average fare indexation held at 3%, the legal minimum under the 2025-2028 financing strategy.
• Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada denounces the hike as unacceptable given service degradation.
• Transitional REM tickets for South Shore are eliminated, fully integrating REM into regional fares.
• Transit agencies face $155.8 million in required savings by 2028 to prevent service cuts.
• Expert Pierre Barrieau rejects free transit as a solution to low ridership.