Grant: Project Grant

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM), a new light-rail (LRT) system that began partial service in summer 2023, is expected to have major impacts on residents across Montreal metropolitan region. This research will concentrate on measuring the medium and long-term impacts of this $8 billion LRT project on residents' health and well-being while assessing broader social, economic, and physical changes across the region. The REM provides an unprecedented opportunity to study public transport investment in the Canadian context and monitor the project impacts before, during, and after the construction. Research objectives include measuring changes in travel behaviour, physical activity levels, health outcomes, and housing affordability using mixed methods. The lessons of this research are particularly timely as federal and provincial governments across Canada are pledging to support similar projects as part of their efforts to combat climate change, improve access to health-promoting amenities, and address disparities in mobility among Canadians. This study builds on the success of a Collaborative Health Research Project (CHRP) and CIHR bridge funding, which is currently conducted by the same research team. The study collected behavioural and health data for over 11,000 individuals, including a panel of more than 3,300 respondents. To our knowledge, no comprehensive longitudinal study has been planned or conducted to fully assess the REM's profound impacts on travel behaviour and public health before, during, and after the construction. This research will shed light on the impacts of large public investments in terms of gender, socio-economic status, age, and other social considerations, while providing recommendations to help improve equity and quality-of-life outcomes. This study will help policymakers and planners in making informed decisions about major public investments to foster more supportive urban infrastructure and improve Canadians' health and well-being.