1. Three transit networks to know
In Brossard, three transit networks work together. The REM is the light metro linking Brossard to downtown Montreal in under 18 minutes. The RTL runs the local buses in Brossard and Longueuil. The OPUS card lets you pay on both networks and across the entire metropolitan system.
2. The REM — your fast link to Montreal
The REM opened in 2023. In Brossard, three stations connect you to the network: Brossard, Du Quartier and Panama. Trains run every 3 minutes 30 seconds at peak hours and every 7 minutes off-peak. Service runs seven days a week: first departures from Brossard around 5:30 a.m., last departures after midnight (around 12:36 and 12:51 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays, around 1:06 and 1:21 a.m. on Saturdays).
3. The RTL — getting around Brossard
The RTL is the Réseau de transport de Longueuil. It runs 152 bus routes covering Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Boucherville. Several Brossard routes feed into the REM stations, so you can easily combine both networks on a single All Modes fare.
4. The OPUS card and fare zones
Greater Montreal is split into fare zones managed by the ARTM, the regional transit authority.
Brossard is in Zone B, and so are its three REM stations. If you travel only by bus — inside Brossard or Longueuil, or by bus to the island of Montreal — the Bus fare is enough: Bus fares cover buses in and between zones A, B and C. If you take the REM, even between two Brossard stations, you need the ALL MODES AB pass: there is no ALL MODES B pass.
According to the ARTM fare schedule, the monthly AB pass becomes cheaper if you ride more than 34 times per month (fares in effect July 1, 2026: single AB fare $5.00, monthly AB pass $170).
5. REM, RTL and fare zones at a glance
Here's a summary of the three networks that serve Brossard, with their main use, frequency, and the required pass.
The right reflex: if you only ride the bus — in Zone B (Brossard or Longueuil) or across to the island of Montreal — a Bus fare is enough. As soon as you take the REM, you need the ALL MODES AB pass. The monthly AB pass becomes cheaper if you ride more than 34 times per month (fares in effect July 1, 2026: single AB fare $5.00, monthly AB pass $170). All passes load onto an OPUS card.
| Network | Main use | Frequency / hours | Required pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| REM | Brossard ↔ downtown Montreal in under 18 min | Every 3 min 30 s at peak, 7 min off-peak, 7/7, last departures after midnight | ALL MODES AB |
| RTL (local Brossard / Longueuil buses) | Travel inside Brossard and Longueuil | 152 routes, varying frequency | Bus |
| RTL feeder to REM | Bus + REM combination toward Montreal | Routes feeding REM stations | ALL MODES AB |
| OPUS card | Payment carrier for all of the above | n/a | Photo card for reduced fares |
6. Where to get and reload your OPUS card
You can get an OPUS card at a ticket office near you; it costs $6 at the regular fare, or $15 with a photo.
Reloading works at the ticket machines of the Brossard, Longueuil and Panama terminuses, at official points of sale (convenience stores, pharmacies, grocery stores) or with the Chrono app. The photo OPUS card is required for reduced fares — students and people 65 and older.
7. Park and Ride at REM stations
If you live further out and drive to the REM, two Brossard stations offer park-and-ride lots: Brossard (2,843 spaces, 2,511 of them free) and Panama (435 spaces, 360 of them free). Paid spaces are managed by Indigo, by the month or by the day; Du Quartier station has no parking. You can also bike there: every REM station has bike racks.
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from new Brossard residents about transit: how long to plan for downtown by REM, whether you can take your bike on the REM, which pass to buy for a single round-trip to Montreal, and what to do if the park-and-ride lot is full.
How long does it take to get downtown Montreal by REM?
From Brossard, the REM reaches downtown Montreal in under 18 minutes. According to the REM's hours of service, between Brossard and Bois-Franc a train runs every 3 minutes 30 seconds at peak hours and every 7 minutes off-peak, so the wait at the station is short.
Add the walk to the station and from Gare Centrale. By car at rush hour via the Samuel-De Champlain bridge, the same trip depends heavily on traffic.
Can you take your bike on the REM?
Yes. Under a pilot project, bikes are allowed on the REM at all times, with a limit of two bikes per car; you must be at least 14 or accompanied by an adult. Electric bikes and motorized scooters are not allowed.
Every REM station also has bike racks if you prefer to leave your bike and continue by train.
Which pass should I buy for a single round-trip to Montreal?
For an occasional round-trip, buy a 1-trip ALL MODES AB pass for each direction — A and B for the trip from Brossard (Zone B) to Montreal (Zone A).
The 1-trip pass is valid for 120 minutes with transfers, so a delayed round-trip counts as two separate passes. If you cross often, the monthly AB pass becomes more economical (there is no weekly AB pass). As a rule of thumb, the monthly becomes worth it beyond 34 trips per month (fares in effect July 1, 2026: single AB fare $5.00, monthly AB pass $170).
What if the park-and-ride lot is full?
The park-and-ride lots at the Brossard and Panama REM stations have free spaces and paid spaces managed by Indigo, by the month or by the day.
If the lot is full, the alternatives are:
- Take an RTL bus that feeds the REM stations (no need to park your car)
- Get there by bike and use the secure bike racks
- Get dropped off at the kiss-and-ride zone at the station entrance
9. See also
To go further on mobility across Greater Montreal:
- Read using the Montreal metro and bus (STM) to understand the island side once off the REM.
- Get the BCITI Brossard card to activate the library, daycare and municipal leisure.
- Prepare outings with parks and outdoor activities in Brossard to reach parc de la Cité off-peak.
10. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information, see these sites:
- Réseau express métropolitain (REM)
- Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL)
- Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM, French only)
You can also call RTL customer service at 450-463-0131.
Author's Note: For most Brossard residents working in Montreal, the REM is a game-changer. Get an OPUS card in your first week and try the rush-hour trip before your first day of work — you'll know exactly how much time to plan.
