Real estate developers in Montreal's Griffintown neighbourhood are making a royalty payment to fund a Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) station that has not yet been constructed. The payment, announced on Thursday, September 17, 2026, is intended to provide financing for the station as part of the broader REM rapid transit project.
The royalty arrangement is part of a financing model that requires developers to contribute to the cost of new REM stations. Under this model, developers help fund the infrastructure that will serve their projects and the surrounding community. In Griffintown, the contribution is being made even though the station itself remains unbuilt, with the funds earmarked for future construction.
The REM rapid transit system, which spans the island of Montreal, includes multiple stations that are being financed through a combination of public investment and private contributions. Developers across the city have been subject to similar obligations, linking real‑estate development to transit expansion. The Griffintown contribution reflects that same policy, ensuring that the anticipated station will have a dedicated funding source when construction commences.
By channeling developer payments into the station's budget, the REM authority aims to reduce the fiscal burden on the public sector and accelerate the delivery of transit infrastructure. The royalty paid by Griffintown developers is a concrete example of how private sector involvement is being integrated into the project's financing strategy. The payment was recorded at 08:00 GMT on the day it was reported, marking another step toward the eventual completion of the Griffintown REM station.