Mark Moutter
@tovarischmark.bsky.social
Longest Ballot Enjoyer, Bridge building connoisseur.
Civil Engineering @ McGill
Civil Engineering @ McGill
Yes. It increases every year according to a set inflation calculation. It started at 72c back in 2023 and is now higher
February 3, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Yes. It increases every year according to a set inflation calculation. It started at 72c back in 2023 and is now higher
Absolutely. Whenever people claim that "The REM is bankrupting the ARTM!", they completely ignore the fact that comparing actual capital costs + operating costs places the REM at very slightly above costs associated with public networks
February 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Absolutely. Whenever people claim that "The REM is bankrupting the ARTM!", they completely ignore the fact that comparing actual capital costs + operating costs places the REM at very slightly above costs associated with public networks
It's been indexed to 0.83c/prs-km last month
February 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
It's been indexed to 0.83c/prs-km last month
Les devis de la Caisse sont toujours très limités dans la divulgation d'information
January 31, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Les devis de la Caisse sont toujours très limités dans la divulgation d'information
The biggest difference is the way freight companies treat MTL compared to Toronto. MTL is an Island, making freight lines much higher value, allowing companies to demand exorbitant prices for corridors, which Exo can't afford, compared to GO, which deals with bypasses and overall easier lines.
January 26, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The biggest difference is the way freight companies treat MTL compared to Toronto. MTL is an Island, making freight lines much higher value, allowing companies to demand exorbitant prices for corridors, which Exo can't afford, compared to GO, which deals with bypasses and overall easier lines.
Okay I just asked their VP of civil engineering during public consultations and he said they're only looking for Alto right now, and are almost entirely excluding corridor sharing unless local authorities offer to pay/participate to triple/quad track
January 23, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Okay I just asked their VP of civil engineering during public consultations and he said they're only looking for Alto right now, and are almost entirely excluding corridor sharing unless local authorities offer to pay/participate to triple/quad track
Exactly. The Mascouche line was PLANNED to only ever have 8 departures per direction per day. PLANNED. When asked about transportation within the city (as a replacement to slow STM buses), the AMT would say "we're a regional authority designed to move suburbanites downtown, not Montrealers within"
January 22, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Exactly. The Mascouche line was PLANNED to only ever have 8 departures per direction per day. PLANNED. When asked about transportation within the city (as a replacement to slow STM buses), the AMT would say "we're a regional authority designed to move suburbanites downtown, not Montrealers within"
Any hopes for it happening within 3 ish months? I know Quebec technically has a law for elections every 4 years and politicians avoiding early elections, but I truly wonder.
January 17, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Any hopes for it happening within 3 ish months? I know Quebec technically has a law for elections every 4 years and politicians avoiding early elections, but I truly wonder.
Pffft, that requires collaboration between the provincial and federal government. I doubt it.
January 16, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Pffft, that requires collaboration between the provincial and federal government. I doubt it.
Can't a PM still request the Lieutenant Governor to hold early elections?
January 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Can't a PM still request the Lieutenant Governor to hold early elections?
Ah, I understand!
January 8, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Ah, I understand!
I'm pretty sure it's an RBQ pilot project. They're likely planning on adding it to the Quebec code for other areas.
rem.info/en/news/work...
rem.info/en/news/work...
Work begins to upgrade elevators for use in the event of an evacuation | REM
rem.info
January 8, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I'm pretty sure it's an RBQ pilot project. They're likely planning on adding it to the Quebec code for other areas.
rem.info/en/news/work...
rem.info/en/news/work...
Funding is still at 27.1% iirc in 2025. The problem is that it's stagnant and with the fare reform, increased the needed provincial subsidy (the QLP expected to increase ARTM funding coming from the province from 32% to 38% as a result of shifting the fare deficit of trains to the rapid network)
January 5, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Funding is still at 27.1% iirc in 2025. The problem is that it's stagnant and with the fare reform, increased the needed provincial subsidy (the QLP expected to increase ARTM funding coming from the province from 32% to 38% as a result of shifting the fare deficit of trains to the rapid network)
Fantastic year!
December 20, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Fantastic year!
The REM actually isn't denoted as equal on the Map, the STM has a vendetta against other transit operators since the ARTM came in
December 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The REM actually isn't denoted as equal on the Map, the STM has a vendetta against other transit operators since the ARTM came in
At least I got this awesome shot of how CBTC works on the REM. it feels scary getting this close to a train
December 15, 2025 at 1:19 AM
At least I got this awesome shot of how CBTC works on the REM. it feels scary getting this close to a train
Frankly no idea, obviously he didn't say anything of value, but his presence + Boyer being there automatically tells me that they're targeting the southwest Montreal area. Potentially using studies conducted for the PSGSO by the ARTM via Dorval or other routings (those have been studied already)
December 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Frankly no idea, obviously he didn't say anything of value, but his presence + Boyer being there automatically tells me that they're targeting the southwest Montreal area. Potentially using studies conducted for the PSGSO by the ARTM via Dorval or other routings (those have been studied already)
I think a north -> southwest alignment seems possible. One of the MPs present at the announcement was Claude Guay, my MP from LaSalle-Emard-Verdun. I actually wrote to him 6 months ago concerning this project and he told me that there'll be "good news for our electoral district" soon... I'm hopeful!
December 14, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I think a north -> southwest alignment seems possible. One of the MPs present at the announcement was Claude Guay, my MP from LaSalle-Emard-Verdun. I actually wrote to him 6 months ago concerning this project and he told me that there'll be "good news for our electoral district" soon... I'm hopeful!
100% with you in that regard
December 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
100% with you in that regard
Unfortunately it was a choice between this and nothing at all. This is the only form factor they could build due to the position of the tunnel relative to 3 existing malls and the existing green line Metro tunnel. This station at a point is only 10cm away from the Metro tunnel.
December 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Unfortunately it was a choice between this and nothing at all. This is the only form factor they could build due to the position of the tunnel relative to 3 existing malls and the existing green line Metro tunnel. This station at a point is only 10cm away from the Metro tunnel.
I ended up missing the CA due to a REM disruption during rush hour... (pretty ironic). I still submitted my question for the next one, and am awaiting an answer from a municipal elected official + the STM and my provincial MNA.
December 12, 2025 at 1:57 AM
I ended up missing the CA due to a REM disruption during rush hour... (pretty ironic). I still submitted my question for the next one, and am awaiting an answer from a municipal elected official + the STM and my provincial MNA.
Coincidentally, tomorrow's both the STM CA and Municipal CA... I'm gonna go to the STM one and ask about their role in TSP implementation and point out how bad it is.
December 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Coincidentally, tomorrow's both the STM CA and Municipal CA... I'm gonna go to the STM one and ask about their role in TSP implementation and point out how bad it is.
Reposted by Mark Moutter
I'm calling for a moratorium on tram and BRT projects in this country until we figure out why cities are incapable to deliver effective TSP in this country.
December 9, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I'm calling for a moratorium on tram and BRT projects in this country until we figure out why cities are incapable to deliver effective TSP in this country.
If I understand correctly, this is due to them not being able to shorten any of the transversal pedestrian phases due to their "vision zero" initiative which sets minimum pedestrian crossing phase lengths. At least it seems to be the case.
December 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If I understand correctly, this is due to them not being able to shorten any of the transversal pedestrian phases due to their "vision zero" initiative which sets minimum pedestrian crossing phase lengths. At least it seems to be the case.
They're free if you receive documents electronically
December 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
They're free if you receive documents electronically