Transit
Métro Green Line
Downtown
11
Public transit is the principal mode of transportation for approximately half
of the respondents to a recent survey on McGill community commuting
practices.2
11
97
Bus Route + Number
Underground Route
The downtown campus is well served by transit, with underground connections
to two Métro stops on the Green Line within five minutes walk to much of
the campus. A frequent suggestion made during stakeholder interview was to
connect the campus's tunnel system to Montreal's underground city and Métro
stations.
11
Three STM buses routes (24, 107, and 144) stop at various locations around
the campus and ten other routes come within a five to ten minute walk to the
campus. It may be worth increasing the frequency of service on the 107 bus
line, which favours trips on a north-south axis.3 The Métro Orange Line and the
AMT regional trains at Lucien L'Allier and Central Stations are a 10-15 minute
walk to the south.
Connections to the Macdonald campus from the downtown campus are
available by the McGill inter-campus shuttle (stop on Sherbrooke), STM buses
from Lionel-Groulx Métro on the Green and Orange Lines, or AMT train from
Lucien L'Allier station on the Orange Line. Connections to the Glen Yard
campus are available by Métro and bus 24.
144
80
129
535
935
107
144
107
24
Inter-Campus
Shuttle Stop
125
es-Arts
Place-d
Peel
McGill
15
107
420
15
420
To Central Station
+ Orange Line
133. Entrance to the Métro Across from McLennan Library
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168
420
61
168
80
129
535
935
134.Downtown Transit
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Macdonald
Public transit is the principal mode of transportation for approximately 29% of
respondents to a recent survey on McGill community commuting practices2.
The commuting times in general are long and the schedules are not in step with
the needs of the campus community.3
The campus is served by five STM buses (200, 210, 211, 221, and 251) which
stop on Lakeshore in front of JAC, except for the 210, which travels from north
of Highway 40 through campus and terminates near the Power House.
The Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue train station, with access to the AMT DorionRigaud regional train, is a 15-20 walk from the campus or can be reached by the
251 bus. A train stop at the Macdonald campus would be a tremendous benefit,
if there was enough development and demand to warrant it.
Connections to the downtown campus are available by the McGill intercampus shuttle (stop at the Centennial Centre); and to both downtown and
Glen Yard by STM buses 211 and 221 to Lionel-Groulx Métro on the Green
and Orange Lines; or AMT train to Lucien L'Allier station on the Orange Line.
The inter-campus shuttle is heavily used by students and holds a maximum of
48 passengers. Approximately 40% of respondents to a recent survey use the
shuttle.2 It is also used by some people as a commuter bus, displacing students
and faculty that need the service. The buses currently leave hourly from each
campus, but there is a desire for more frequent service.
210
219
219
221
251
AMT DorionRigaud Line
Bus Route +
Number
291
Taxibus Route +
Number
291
210
Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue
251
Inter-Campus
Shuttle Stop
221
200
211
221
251
135. Macdonald Campus Bus Terminus
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136. Macdonald Transit
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Parking
Surface Parking
Underground Parking
Downtown
There are currently four underground parking garages and 52 outdoor lots,
which contain 655 interior and 668 exterior spaces, respectively a total of 1323
parking spaces.
According to a recent survey, approximately 9% of the McGill community
commute by automobile, and it is estimated that one third of that 9% fit the
profile of potential transit users.2
There is a strong desire by many in the McGill community to reduce the amount
of surface parking for both aesthetic and environmental reasons, particularly in
the lower campus. There are currently 152 parking spaces (excluding 10 barrier
free spaces) south of the James Building, within or adjacent to the green, that
could potentially be removed.
Parking lost to landscape improvements could be placed below the lower campus
green. A feasibility study produced by BPR Groupe-conseil in November 2001
explored this option. The study analysed cases for either a 400 or 700 space,
multi-storey parking structure under the athletic field on the green, with access
provided north of Roddick Gates. The estimated total project cost was between
$17 million and $22 million or $31,000 to $42,000 per parking space. Not
analysed was the ability or willingness of automobile commuters to pay a tariff
to offset the cost.
137. Downtown Parking
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MCGILL UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN: PLANNING BASE WORKING PAPER*
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Macdonald
McGill and JAC share their parking, which is managed by Macdonald/JAC
Department of Security Services. McGill is allotted 743 spaces and JAC has
1200. Staff and students park in separate designated lots, but it appears there
is no distinction made between JAC and Macdonald spaces. All parking is in
surface lots. The number of parking spaces seem to be sufficient and the rates
are extremely low.3
Almost 38% of Macdonald campus respondents in a recent survey use their car
as the principal mode of transport to the campus.2 There is some potential to
encourage car pooling, and if transit service improves, to reduce dependence
on the private automobile.
138. Large Parking Lots South of Highway 20
139. Macdonald Parking (McGill and JAC)
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MCGILL UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN: PLANNING BASE WORKING PAPER*
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MCGILL UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN: PLANNING BASE WORKING PAPER*
*prepared by consultants for discussion purposes - has not been endorsed by McGill University
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Cycling
Existing City Bike Path
Existing Informal Bike Route
Downtown
Cycling is a popular mode of commuting, particularly in warmer weather.
Approximately 7% of the McGill community commute by bicycle2 and many
others use the campus as a through route to other destinations. There are
currently no City commuter bike routes that connect to the campus, but a
recreational route through Mount Royal Park is accessed at Peel Street. The
Park-Pine intersection redevelopment proposes a new off-street bike route on
the east side of Park Avenue, through Jeanne-Mance Park.
Proposed Bike Path
Bike Rack
Area of Major Conflict
The University and the City of Montreal have recently been discussing the
potential of routing a bike path through the campus from the Milton Gate to
the Roddick Gate, but this is not desirable or advisable. Currently, there are
conflicts among cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, particularly at the corner of the
Macdonald Engineering Building. The bend in the road makes visibility poor
and cyclists often ride in the wrong direction down this one-way route. Many
in the University community want to encourage cycling as a mode of transit
but not at the expense of pedestrian safety. A solution that can accommodate
both pedestrians and bikes safely is needed. Limiting car access on the lower
campus and reconfiguring the internal road system holds the potential of
resolving this conflict.
A 2004 study by the McGill Planning Office identifies deficiencies in the type,
placement, and number of bike racks on campus. It recommended replacing
many of the existing bike racks with a U-type rack, reorganizing racks that are
too close together, and providing bicycle parking for every building on campus.
The University installed 20 new bicycle racks in spring 2005.
A 2004 Allégo study noted the campus bike rack locations are not well lit, and
that showers and locker rooms accessible to cyclists are only available at the
gym3.
140. Area of Conflict Between Cars,
Cyclists, and Pedestrians
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141. Overcrowded Bicycle Parking Area
at McConnell Engineering
142. Bicycles Locked to Hand Rails
MCGILL UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN: PLANNING BASE WORKING PAPER*
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143. Downtown Cycling
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Macdonald
The Macdonald campus is easily accessible by bicycle from nearby
neighbourhoods.There is no existing off-street path that connects to the campus,
although there is a bike path on campus along Lakeshore Road. An off-street
bike route has been proposed to connect to existing path north of Highway 40
four kilometres west of the campus. It has been requested that McGill provide
a 5 m right of way on their land for this bike route. The City of Montreal
designates Lakeshore Road as a "perimeter bikeway", but there is no actual bike
lane on the street.
Bikes are often used on the Macdonald campus to get to the farm, the Arboretum,
and the Ecomuseum from south of Highway 20. A popular self-serve bike share
program provides five free bikes to be used by the McGill community for a
maximum of three hours.
Fifteen bike racks provide parking for approximately 120 bicycles. Many of
these need to be replaced with a U-type rack and fixed to the ground. The 2004
Allégo study noted the campus bike rack locations are well lit and that there are
no showers and locker rooms accessible to cyclists.3
144. Bike Share Fleet Source: http://
www.mcgill.ca
145. Bike Route on the Bridge over
Highway 20
Existing City BIke Path
Existing Informal Bike Route
Proposed Bike Route
Bike Loan Location
146. Macdonald Cycling
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MCGILL UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN: PLANNING BASE WORKING PAPER*
*prepared by consultants for discussion purposes - has not been endorsed by McGill University
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