Commuters at the Brossard REM station say finding parking has become a daily struggle and with limited spots many are left parking illegally. Patrick Blair, a regular user of the station, says when he arrives at the station, he skips the spots near the entrance and heads straight to the far end of the lot. His strategy, however, only works if he arrives early. “Normally, I arrive at about 7:30 a.m. and parking is still tight at that point,” he said. Since the back-to-school rush began, parking spots have become even harder to find. “As soon as there’s a spot available, everyone just turns in aggressively,” said Blair. The REM station in Brossard is one of the busiest on the network. The station offers 2,843 parking spaces and 21 bus bays. Still, it is not enough according to commuters. Some drivers are now parking illegally on the road near the REM. Pulsar, the agency that operates the REM, says that area is not designated for parking. The road must allow for two-way traffic as well as access to emergency vehicles. As a result, the agency had to issue parking tickets. In a statement to CTV News, CDPQ Infra wrote, “We recognize that some users may face challenges accessing Brossard Station, particularly due to the high demand for parking during peak periods.” Adding, “We continuously assess opportunities to improve the parking offer whenever possible.” The City of Brossard says it is aware of the issue, and they are advocating for solutions that will increase parking spots. Both CDPQ Infra and Pulsar point to the bus network as another way to get to the station. Blair says the buses are unreliable. “My options are risking my life on a bike. Take a terrible bus service. Or just bite the bullet, get here early, and make sure I get a parking spot.”
