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.
“It would’ve helped a lot, I think it’s a great idea,” she said as she was coming off the electric stairs.
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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
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“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.
Work to retrofit elevators is currently underway at Rosemont, Place-d’Armes and Honoré-Beaugrand stations.
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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.
Inaugurated in 1981, Snowdon station sees some 3.7 million people go through it each year.
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