Commuters using six AMT train and STM Metro stations in and around Montreal now have the option of reserving a coveted park-and-ride parking spot — for a fee.
Currently, parking at AMT train stations can be difficult: the spots are free, but limited, meaning that parking ends up being a race in the mornings. For people who work outside the 9-5, finding a spot can be impossible.
“It doesn’t solve the issue that we do not have enough parking spots for West Islanders, because most of us take the train and by 7:30 a.m. during busy season, there’s no parking past 7.30 in the morning,” said commuter Fred Fayad.
Up to 20 per cent of the parking at Deux-Montagnes, Roxboro-Pierrefonds and Ste-Thérèse train stations, as well as Cartier and Namur Metro stations, will be converted into reserved paid parking as part of a pilot project.
The parking lot at Terrebonne train station is still in negotiations.
For four of them, people looking to sign up for monthly subscriptions can do so via the Vinci Autopark website.
For Cartier Metro station, possible subscribers will need to go to the station as of June 16 to sign up.
Some people CBC/Radio-Canada spoke to at the Roxboro-Pierrefonds station had different opinions of the move.
"If it's going to be like that, I think I'll take the bus or get a lift with someone," said one commuter, while another said that if the long-term plan is to get people using public transit, this won't help.
The cost of the parking is on a sliding scale according to how far away the station is from the downtown core, with the closest being the most expensive. Registration opens today for people wishing to sign up.
The remainder of the parking spots at each station will still be free.