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Snowdon metro station more accessible thanks to 3 new elevators

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Accessible metros in Montreal
Three elevators are now operational at Snowdon metro station on the orange line, as part of an ongoing movement to make the transit system more accessible. – Jun 3, 2016

CÔTE-DES-NEIGES – The Snowdon metro station inaugurated three new elevators on Friday.

It’s one of several stations that will be retro-fitted to become more accessible.

“Making the metro accessible is still a priority for the STM and our work will continue toward that end for the benefit of all Montrealers,” said Philippe Schnobb, chairman of the STM board of directors in a press release.

“I haven’t been on them yet but congratulations, I’m delighted,” said a woman who was too rushed to give her name.

“For people with disabilities these are a blessing, they should have them in every metro station.”

Alyette Israel, a Côte-des-Neiges resident who was carrying a plant, said she wished she had known about it.

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“It would’ve helped a lot, I think it’s a great idea,” she said as she was coming off the electric stairs.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: STM won’t say when second Montreal AZUR Metro train will hit the tracks

Julien Gascon-Samson, a member of RAPLIQ – an organisation that advocates for the rights of disabled people – welcomes the news but said there’s still plenty of work to do.

“The rate at which they are installing elevators is too slow,” he said

“Our latest estimates, at the rate they are going, it [the underground network] will be fully accessible in 2085.”

READ MORE: Elevators coming to five Metro stations in Montreal

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Snowdon becomes the 10th station in the orange line to become fully accessible.
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It also connects to the blue line, which has one (Jean-Talon) out of  its 12 stations retro-fitted.
“There’s currently no way to get out of the blue line,” Gascon-Samson pointed out.
STM map showing stations with elevators, all located in the orange line. Friday June 3rd, 2016. Courtesy of the STM
“If you don’t live in the orange line, you’re stuck,” added Gascon-Samson, who said he had to buy an adapted van to get around.
Global News reached out to the STM, which wasn’t available for comment.

Work to retrofit elevators is currently underway at Rosemont, Place-d’Armes and Honoré-Beaugrand stations.

READ MORE: Access an issue as new Vendôme-MUHC tunnel opens

Similar work is scheduled for Vendôme station – which gives access to the super hospital – and Viau station. Work there should be completed in 2019. Mont-Royal station should be ready in 2020.

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Inaugurated in 1981, Snowdon station sees some 3.7 million people go through it each year.

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