Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada wants to relaunch the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project in the east end of the city.
The move comes as the city prepares for the 2026 election campaign. Bringing the light rail expansion back into the public discourse is intended to address mobility gaps in the eastern region and force a political decision on the project's future.
The proposal focuses on improving transportation infrastructure for residents in the east end of the metropolis. The mayor said she is frustrated over a lack of funding for collective transport, which has hindered the city's ability to modernize its transit network.
Significant capital has already been spent on the initiative. Previous studies for the REM in the east end of Montreal cost 94 million Canadian dollars [1]. Other reports indicate the total investment in these studies reached nearly 100 million Canadian dollars [2].
By reviving the project now, the mayor is placing the issue at the center of the upcoming political cycle. The goal is to ensure that mobility in the east end remains a primary campaign issue, pushing provincial and federal partners to commit to the necessary financing.
While the project aims to reduce traffic congestion and provide faster commutes, the high cost of preliminary studies remains a point of contention. The city must now determine if the existing data is sufficient to move toward construction, or if further investment is required.
“Soraya Martinez Ferrada wants to relaunch the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project in the east end of the city.”
The push for the REM expansion represents a strategic attempt to leverage the 2026 election cycle to secure transit funding. By highlighting the nearly 100 million Canadian dollars already spent on studies, the administration is framing the project as a necessary completion of existing investments rather than a new, unfunded expense.
