On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the Martinez Ferrada administration announced that city officials are putting forward a plan to revive the stalled eastern segment of the Réseau express métropolitain, commonly known as the REM. The proposal marks a renewed effort to move forward with a portion of the project that has remained dormant for several years.
The eastern extension of the REM was cancelled in May 2022 after the project encountered social acceptability challenges, specifically a lack of sufficient public support for its downtown portion. Those concerns led the city to halt work on that segment at the time.
According to the current proposal, the redesign of the eastern stretch is intended to create a direct link with the metro’s Green Line. City officials suggest that this connection could improve integration within Montreal’s broader transit network and address some of the issues that contributed to the earlier cancellation.
The administration’s plan does not include detailed timelines or funding arrangements in the announcement. Instead, the focus is on presenting a revised alignment that responds to the public’s earlier reservations while offering a tangible connection to existing subway infrastructure.
By revisiting the eastern REM extension, the city aims to reassess the project’s viability under new design parameters. The effort reflects an ongoing interest in expanding rapid transit options across the metropolitan area, despite the setbacks experienced in 2022.
The proposal will be subject to further discussion within municipal bodies and may involve additional consultations to gauge public response before any construction activities resume.