We have prioritized the review of our network in these sectors in order to align our services with the launch of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) on the South Shore.

The REM’s South Shore segment will link Montreal’s Central Station to the Brossard REM station. At that point, our buses will no longer have access to the Samuel-De Champlain bridge.

Our buses will link the sectors of Chambly-Richelieu-Carignan, Le Richelain and Roussillon to the REM.

Exo invited people affected by these changes, i.e. stakeholders including users, citizens, local organizations, partners, and elected officials, to participate in the consultations through various activities such as surveys, consultation sessions, discussion forums, etc. These consultations were carried out in two phases.

Phase 1 took place in fall 2019 and winter 2020.

• Exo invited stakeholders to express their needs and concerns regarding the bus network reconfiguration at various meetings and consultation sessions, as well as via a survey.
• These consultations served as our basis to develop the bus service scenarios presented in Phase 2 of the consultations.

Phase 2 took place in fall 2020.

• Exo proposed new bus routes to citizens, who were invited to ask questions and share their opinions via consultation sessions, an online survey and thematic discussion forums.

Following this second phase of consultations, the new data we collected was compiled in a consultation report (in French) published in early 2021.

Updated schedules for the new network will be in place as soon as the REM opens on the South Shore. These revised schedules will be announced ahead of time so users can plan their new routes. Exo has a plan to help guide you through these changes.

Changes to rates are part of the fare reform project, which is the responsibility of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).

The ARTM is currently redesigning the rate structure for all of Greater Montreal in an effort to simplify it.

Learn more about the fare reform

Yes. The new bus network will provide better east-west service. We’re planning to better align our services with those of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) in order to facilitate travel between regions. The REM terminals will be ideal for transfers between the two networks.

Our operations teams are monitoring the ridership for each route to ensure we select the right type of bus.

We are constantly improving and will continue to improve our facilities based on customer needs and available financing.

In addition, we’ll be reconfiguring certain bus terminals to better serve the new bus network.

We are considering improving off-peak and weekend service as part of this reconfiguration process, and we have reviewed off-peak and weekend bus frequency for certain routes.

To learn more, visit the page dedicated to the launch of this network.

Exo hopes to see more of this infrastructure developed to provide you with speedier service. Creating reserved lanes involves several partners, including municipalities and the ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ), depending on the location. We actively collaborate with our metropolitan partners to prioritize reserved lanes as they contribute to making public transit more efficient and appealing.

Yes, certain taxibus lines have been replaced by bus service, while others have been added or remain in service.

If you would like to know more about schedule changes, exo has a plan to help guide you.

Yes, boarding and disembarking outside the territory we serve as well as transfers to the REM, STM and RTL are permitted, depending on your fare. To board an exo bus and travel into RTL or STM territory, you must hold a transit fare that is valid in Zone C and Zone D.

Learn more about the fares and fare zones valid for travel in exo’s territory.

As for exo bus stops in RTL territory, stay tuned! Exo has a plan to help guide you through these changes.

Our buses serve some 60 municipalities on Montreal’s North and South Shores, most of which are located in the Montreal Metropolitan Area, and some of which are outside this territory, such as Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Exo does not have the power to modify its coverage area. This is the responsibility of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), which is in charge of public transit planning, financing and fare pricing in the metropolitan area.

Good to know: The hospital, the cegep and the military college will be directly served by the proposed 685 line.

As soon as the REM opens on the South Shore, our buses will no longer have access to the Samuel-De Champlain bridge. To get to Montreal, you may use our bus services to connect with the REM, which can then take you to several Montreal destinations. Certain lines will maintain service to Longueuil hubs (metro), as well as to Montreal via the Mercier bridge. Some local lines will also be available, and travel between South Shore municipalities will be made easier.

Exo has a plan to help guide you through these changes.

As much as possible, local service has been configured in order to limit the amount of transfers required to access the REM. Several bus routes will directly serve South Shore REM stations as soon as they open in 2023.

Exo has a plan to help guide you through these changes.

A contingency plan is currently being developed alongside our partners (ARTM, REM and RTL) should such a situation occur.

Exo has a plan to help guide you through these changes.

Yes, Candiac station will be served by 2 bus lines: the present T36 and T37 routes have been slightly modified, and the service will be offered by minibus (lines 147 and 147). We have also added a new connecting line at Candiac station for the municipality of Saint-Philippe (line 135).

According to our data, the transit demand does not justify increased service to these destinations.

As well, providing more connections to the Brossard REM station gives commuters a more competitive travel time to downtown.

Access to this new station will also enable transfers to other exo services to serve more destinations.

Note however that service levels will evolve in the years following the launch of the new network based on changing demand.

Adding a taxibus line for the municipality of Saint-Mathieu was not prioritized in configuring the new network. However, if demand justifies it, we may create new lines in coming years once the new network is up and running.

Preliminary estimated travel times to the REM are displayed in the tables below.

To see the REM travel times, click on the station name:

• Brossard station
• Panama station

Summary of estimated morning peak-period travel times to the REM from each terminal

These are preliminary estimates based on current data regarding anticipated traffic conditions. These estimates are valid for periods of traffic congestion, during morning rush hour.

The new route serving Richelieu and Marieville (C486) will stop at the Brossard REM station.

According to an agreement between the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) and the Caisse de Dépôt et placement du Québec Infra (CDPQ Infra), as soon as the REM opens, exo and RTL buses will no longer have access to the Samuel-De Champlain bridge.

There will be no direct route. However, transfers are possible via the Brossard REM station.

Off-peak service will be aligned with the REM’s operating hours to cover the last arrival at Brossard station, at approximately 1 a.m.