Montreal’s newest trendy neighbourhood could be the one you least expect. With new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) stations being built and huge developments planned in the area, Ville Saint-Laurent is looking to be on its way up. The borough will soon be connected to the city’s public transit network unlike ever before.
In three years from now, Ville Saint-Laurent will have the most REM stations in Montreal: Côte-de-Liesse, Montpellier, Du Ruisseau, Bois-Franc, and Marie-Curie.
The REM tells MTL Blog that this means “in a few years if you live in Saint-Laurent, you will have access to a light-rail technology that will transport you across town with a high frequency 20 hours a day, 7 days a week! Just imagine the new possibilities!”
For instance, if you live near Bois-Franc station, you will be able to go downtown in 15 minutes and to the airport in 10 minutes.
In addition to the several REM stations in the borough, the City of Montreal has outlined a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for the Bois-Franc area.
Within a one-kilometre radius of the Bois-Franc REM station, the city plans to develop over 7,000 new housing units along with “104,350 m² of parks, public squares, and green spaces.”
Several of the borough’s REM stations have already begun to take shape.
A drone video (seen below) shows off the incredible progress that’s being made in Bois-Franc. This station will be one of the first ones completed in the borough.