If you take the bus and metro regularly, you'll be getting a break on your fare until at least next July and you should be seeing more metros and buses during your commute.
As it did last year, the STM's new budget promises a fare freeze until July when it'll be revised. Last July, fares were increased. STM chairman Philippe Schnobb said fares will likely rise next year as well.
The 2017 $1.4-billion budget includes more money from the city of Montreal and the agglomeration which will be spent, in part, on more metro train frequency during rush hours and evenings — thanks to the addition of more Azur trains which are faster and can hold more people. For example, they're promising a five minute maximum wait during evenings on the orange, green and blue lines. The blue line night service will be extended by 30 minutes.
There'll also be more buses passing by more often, with some buses starting in the middle of the their routes to get around roadwork and to pick up passengers stuck waiting.
There'll be a 5% increase in adapted transit trips and 107 new air-conditioned hybrid buses.
For the first time, the metro will be open all night from now on on New Year's Eve.