F1 Grand Prix: How to get around Montreal
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, drives during the qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix June 8, 2024 in Montreal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi)
After last year's mishaps during Montreal's Formula 1 Grand Prix, city officials say they are aiming for 'the top of the podium' when it comes to logistics and transportation, Noovo Info reports.
Grand Prix weekend typically attracts more than 300,000 people — 50 per cent of whom come from outside Quebec — making it the busiest weekend on the city's roads.
READ MORE: Montreal hopes to repair damaged reputation during Grand Prix weekend
'The main point is to avoid the Jacques Cartier Bridge and the Bonaventure Expressway if you are not going to the Canadian Grand Prix,' said Philippe Sabourin, a spokesperson with the City of Montreal.
While the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve site at Jean-Drapeau Park on Île Sainte-Hélène is expecting to be very busy, other areas in and around Montreal will also be buzzing with F1 excitement, including the Formula Peel event, the Grand Prix Festival on Crescent Street and the pit stop at the Eaton Centre.
On the same weekend, the city will also be hosting the Francos de Montréal and Mural Festival, among other events.
Anyone attending the Montreal Grand Prix festivities is encouraged to plan their travel using the F1 GP Canada app.
'Given the large number of participants and the fact that there is no parking available, it is essential to use public transport to access the site during the event,' warns the Canadian Grand Prix website, pointing to public transit, park-and-ride options, river shuttles and taxis.
STM strike
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says it has negotiated an agreement with its maintenance workers to ensure that public transport will be 'complete and regular' during the Grand Prix, both for safety and traffic flow reasons.
The Jean-Drapeau Metro station (Yellow line) is located near the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, about a 15-minute walk away.
In addition to the Metro, there should be special shuttles running between the Old Port and Île Sainte-Hélène.
The STM is advising users to plan their trips carefully and purchase tickets in advance whenever possible.
Keep the city clean
The City of Montreal, with the help of the Ville-Marie and Plateau-Mont-Royal boroughs in particular, says it has made additional efforts in recent weeks to keep the streets clean.
Work has also been done on various construction sites located within the perimeter of the Grand Prix and across the downtown core, including the fact that no new permits have been issued for that time period, except for emergencies.
The City of Montreal says it has also asked developers to keep construction sites clean and remove 'unnecessary' cones.
READ MORE: STM maintenance workers are officially on strike
Officials say they have added decorative elements to fences surrounding construction sites to improve their appearance, met with numerous downtown businesses, and had firefighters inspect terraces to ensure they are compliant and 'everything looks good.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Traffic times along the Gardiner have doubled in one year due to construction: study
Westbound traffic is seen on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. A new study says travel times on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway have doubled in just one year due to ongoing construction. The study from Altitude by Geotab—a software company that provides mobility data analytics—says that the most congested sections of the Gardiner experienced an increased delay of about 230 per cent in 2025, while commute times along the entire expressway—from Highway 427 to Cherry Street—have doubled since construction began in 2024. The delays along some portions of the Gardiner are even worse. For example, the study found that it is now taking drivers 24 minutes to travel from Humber River to Strachan Avenue during peak commuting hours, which is triple the eight minute average from before construction began. The drive from Jarvis to Dufferin streets has also nearly tripled, going from an average of 11 minutes during peak commuting hours prior to the beginning of construction to 30 minutes as of last month. In April, the highway was reduced to two lanes in each direction between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue for critical rehabilitation work. Ontario has said the construction work on the highway is ahead of schedule and set to finish more than 15 months earlier than planned. Altitude by Geotab says their study looked at vehicles travelling on the Gardiner eastbound during the peak morning hour—7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.—and westbound in the afternoon—4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.—as well as eastbound and westbound travel times during the middle of the day—11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. It found that the first three weeks of the new construction that started in mid-April this year caused travel times to increase, 'resulting in an average morning peak travel time of 40 minutes from the pre-construction 23-minute commute.' Delays were found to be at their worst along the segment of the Gardiner that spans from Colborne Lodge Drive to just past Jameson Avenue. Gardiner study The map above shows increased eastbound travel times on the Gardiner Expressway towards downtown Toronto during the 7:30-8:30 a.m. rush hour, comparing pre-construction with conditions after new construction began in 2025. 'The data clearly shows the significant strain of the Gardiner Expressway construction on daily commutes and business in the Greater Toronto Area,' said Mike Branch, Vice President of Data and Analytics at Geotab, in a release on Monday. 'The traffic patterns in large cities like Toronto impact the entire region. When you add a large sporting event, concert, or other community event, you have a picture of where the bottlenecks will be. With the roadwork expected to continue next year, drivers should plan for significant delays along their commutes.' The study said that when construction first began, those first three weeks also had the slowest travel times, but the numbers came down after drivers settled into the new routine, so if that pattern holds, commute times could lower by about five minutes in the coming weeks. And it's not just the Gardiner being impacted by the 24/7 construction. Altitude by Geotab says Lake Shore Boulevard has seen a 'persistent' 30 per cent average increase in travel time over the last 14 months. According to the province, construction is slated to be complete by January 2026. With files from CTV News Toronto's Alex Arsenych
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
The first of OC Transpo's new Para Transpo minibuses is rolling out
OC Transpo says the first of its new Para Transpo minibuses is now on the road. The new seven-metre minibus first arrived in February but has been undergoing inspections, testing, and driver training. In a post on social media, OC Transpo announced Monday the new minibus has hit the streets. 'Our first 7-metre Para Transpo bus is now on the road — and it might be picking you up soon,' OC Transpo said. 'This is just the beginning, as more are on the way.' OC Transpo has ordered 76 new seven-metre buses to update the Para Transpo fleet, and six new six-metre buses. According to OC Transpo, the new seven-metre buses come with up to 10 seats, up to three wheelchair spots, O-payment readers and air conditioning. The seats come with seatbelts and stability belts, the back and side door ramps are slip-resistant, and there are onboard security cameras on each bus. Para Transpo interior Interiors of Para Transpo's new seven-metre minibus. (Courtesy: OC Transpo) The back ramp can support mobility devices up to 86 centimetres (34 inches) wide and up to 454 kilograms (1,000 pounds). The back ramp can support the same width and devices up to 363 kg (800 lbs.), OC Transpo says. Last December, OC Transpo said Para Transpo minibuses were experiencing increased mechanical issues due to the age of majority of the fleet. 'These older vehicles require additional repairs that are often more complex and take longer to complete,' a memo said. As of last December, Para Transpo had a fleet of 80 minibuses, which were 10 years old. Replacement of the fleet was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff said, but is now underway, with the first new buses arriving this year.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Hall of Famers Els, Montgomerie to tee off at Rogers Charity Classic
International team captain Mike Weir, right, chats with assistant captain Ernie Els on the first tee during their fifth round singles match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club on Sunday, September 29, 2024 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes CALGARY — World Golf Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie have been added to the field of the Rogers Charity Classic, the only Canadian stop on the Champions Tour. Els, a former world No. 1 and a four-time major winner, will tee off at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club for the second straight year. He finished in a tie for 10th in 2024. 'I look forward to playing again in Calgary at the Rogers Charity Classic,' Els said in a release. 'It is a tournament known for its deep roots in the community, and tremendous power to influence children's charities to make our communities a better place, which closely aligns with my own goals.' Scotland's Montgomerie was runner-up in his first appearance at the event in 2015 and finished sixth in 2016. 'I enjoy all of the PGA Tour Champions events, but Calgary is a special one,' Montgomerie said in a release. 'The course is absolutely perfect, and the tournament has had a tremendous impact on the community. It has been voted the No. 1 Tour event three times for a reason, and I have always said as long as I'm on this Tour, I'll be participating in the Rogers Charity Classic.' The captain of the Ryder Cup-winning European squad in 2010 will be looking for his eighth Champions Tour title and first since 2019. The Rogers Charity Classic runs Aug. 15-17. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. The Canadian Press
