A cost that only continues to rise
Road congestion in the Greater Montreal area reportedly cost its motorists $6.13 billion. This amount was calculated by the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC), using only three criteria: time lost on the road, additional fuel costs, and vehicle wear and tear. This cost will increase over time if no measures are taken to curb ’car dependency.«.
The private car: a deeply ingrained reflex
A source of joy and freedom, but also of stress and road rage, private car use has been steadily increasing in Quebec over the past few decades, despite rising purchase and maintenance costs. Today, 43% of the province’s environmental footprint is attributable to transportation, which is hardly surprising given that 82% of Quebecers report using their car as their primary mode of transportation. Despite some positive shifts toward remote work, the trend is toward a return to in-person work, leading to the traffic jams we’ve all experienced.
The mobility plan: A powerful tool in the hands of employers
This is where the responsibility of employers, as well as public authorities, lies in addressing this issue to reduce solo driving and increase the use of other modes of transport (buses, trains, cycling, walking, carpooling) through the implementation of a mobility plan. It is a continuous process that not only allows a company to take stock of its current situation but is also a powerful tool for establishing an ecosystem of mutually reinforcing measures to change travel habits.
Parking: a central lever for modal shift
One of the key factors for success is to focus on parking and better manage its use. The availability of a significant number of parking spaces and not charging for parking are two factors that directly influence the single-occupancy vehicle rate: the more spaces there are, and the less expensive or free they are, the higher the single-occupancy vehicle rate will be. It is therefore imperative to implement a parking management system to encourage a modal shift towards more sustainable modes. By placing equal treatment at the heart of its analysis and recommendations, we propose to directly address this issue. So that everyone can use the right mode for the right trip, our recommendations are geared towards concrete measures to create an ecosystem of measures that promote modal shift in order to move towards happy mobility within the company.