Ever rising reduced STM fares, the new shuttle bus schedule and Montreal’s demographic properties
With the new shuttle bus schedule, many Concordia students are turning to the STM for their daily commute. Alas! Having purchased the reduced monthly fare for many years now, I can’t stop thinking of how it has increased over the recent years, especially for the demographic that tends to be affected more by the current cost of living crisis.
When starting my bachelor’s in 2022, I was shocked to find myself paying $56.50 monthly for transit. Now, keeping up with inflation, that number has reached $60 for those living on the island. Students commuting from outside STM zone A pay even higher fees.
First, some brief context:
In 2022, the City of Montreal adopted the measure of providing seniors (65+) with free STM fares, stating in their press release that “the wallets of seniors, who live with stable incomes, are put to the test” by inflation. According to Statistics Canada’s 2022 Equity Census, the median income for those 65+ was double that of those aged 15-24, the age group encompassing most Concordia students.
So, where does this leave us?
Where in the past, some Concordia students could avoid the costly STM fares by using the shuttle bus, they now join the rest of us, paying hundreds of dollars just to get to class on time throughout the year.
With Montreal constantly ranking in the top ten most expensive Canadian cities to live in, students have to spend progressively more of their time working. The rise in additional costs of necessities strains student budgets even thinner, especially for those facing financial instability. By leaving the city’s student population to fend for themselves with rising essential costs, the municipal and provincial governments are sending us a clear message about their priorities.
While the STM does gradually expand its service, creating new lines and new services, we are left shouldering increased costs. For students, it feels as though policymakers are forgetting that Montreal is one of, if not the best, city for post-secondary education in North America.
If this constant neglect of the student population of the city and undermining our services continues, that prestigious title might slip away in the near future.
