Transportation
Whether you're coming to Concordia on foot or on wheels, there are plenty of commuting options that are good for your health and the planet.
Why sustainable transport?
- Better our communities – Active and sustainable transportation makes your community safer by reducing the risk of vehicle-pedestrian accidents. It also increases social interaction within the community and decrease traffic noise.
- Improve your health – Active and sustainable transportation enhances physical, mental, and emotional health. People who cycle to work are 4 to 15% more productive (Vélo Québec).
- Save money – Driving 18,000 km per year costs an average of $8,441.25 per year or 46.9 cents per kilometre (Canadian Automobile Association 2011 national average for a Cobalt LT).
- Help the environment – Active and sustainable transportation keeps our air clean by improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Silver VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE certification 2023-2028
Vélo Québec awarded the certification to Concordia for its measures to support cycling through infrastructure, education, encouragement, planning and equity.
Campus and public transport
Green(er) driving
Concordia University has fourteen parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle charging. Seven are located at the SGW campus and seven are located at the Loyola campus.
Loyola (7):
- Four 240 v Circuit Électrique charging stations at the Jesuit Parking Lot (P2)*
- One 120 v outlet at the Terrebonne Parking lot (P5)**
- Two 120 v outlets at the Sports Complex Parking Lot (P7)**
SGW (7):
- Two 120 v outlets at the LB Building Indoor Garage**
- Five 240 v Circuit Électrique charging stations at the FB Building Indoor Garage*
Parking rates apply in all spaces, including those equipped with electrical vehicle charging.
Concordia offers reduced-fare parking to those who take cars off the road through their carpool program.
There is Shoptalk Carpool channel to facilitate carpooling among employees. It helps interested employees find potential carpooling partners by sharing schedules, locations, and destinations-- use the subject field to indicate their home location (city/neighborhood) and destination (SGW/Loyola).
Covoiturage ARTM is a web platform and mobile application developed as part of a pilot project for mitigating the impact of the major repair work on the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel. This carpooling pilot project launched to the public in spring 2023 is led by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) and funded by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD). Whether you’re a driver or passenger, effortlessly find carpoolers with Covoiturage ARTM.
The benefits:
- Option to use an online platform or a mobile app
- Matches vehicle owners with passengers seeking a ride in the Greater Montreal Area
- Passengers pay $0.12 per kilometer travelled by the driver
- Drivers receieve $0.10 per per kilometer travelled, or $0.34 per kilometer when using one of the following four cross-river links:
- the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel
- the Jacques-Cartier Bridge
- the Victoria Bridge
- the Samuel De Champlain Bridge
- Passengers whose ride home crosses one of the four cross-river linkages are entitled to (3) guaranteed ride home trips annually, in the event of an unforeseen situation or in the event of a cancellation from your driver less than four (4) hours before your trip.
Car sharing is a great alternative to owning a car in Montreal. No expensive maintenance fees, no insurance fees, and you don’t pay for gas!
The best part? All of the vehicles available through these car-sharing programs are either hybrid or fully electric.
Communauto is a car sharing service that offers flexible packages based on usage. Users have the option to get a car with reservation for roundtrips or without reservation for short one-way trips within Montreal!
Find out more information or locate the closest station!
Rail and air travel
Are you a faculty or staff member at Concordia?
Would you like to promote and build awareness of a low-carbon work culture at Concordia?
Are there some activities that you can take on without air travel?
Commit to mindfully reducing your flying activities!
Flying Less Concordia, developed within the department of Geography, Planning and Environment, is a project that envisions the reduction of academic flying emissions. Their goal is to get everyone within Concordia University to commit to flying less, while promoting alternative solutions for academic success.
Staff and faculty have access to two discounts when travelling with VIA Rail Canada. The VIA Rail Canada network spans from coast to coast. Railway travel is considered a low-emission mode of transportation and is a recommended alternative to air travel when possible.
Business travel
As per Concordia’s Travel and Conferences Handbook for staff and faculty, those travelling for business purposes are entitled to a 15% discount with Via Rail. As well, regardless of the cost in comparison to economy airfare, you may choose to travel in business class rail when travelling between Montreal and the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec! Please consult the Travel and Conference Policy Handbook for more details.
Leisure travel
For leisure travel, staff and faculty have access to a discount of 12.5% on each ticket for up to three additional tickets for people travelling with them. Please visit the VIA Rail Canada webpage for the discount code and conditions.
