STL, métro et OPUS — circuler à Laval et vers Montréal.
1. Three ways to get around
In Laval, public transit relies on two complementary networks.
The STL, Société de transport de Laval, runs the local buses covering all of Laval.
Montreal's metro — the orange line — has three stations in Laval that reach downtown Montreal in about twenty minutes.
The OPUS card pays for all networks in Greater Montreal.
2. The three metro stations in Laval
The orange line crosses Laval with three stations:
- Cartier — near the bridge to Montreal and several STL buses
- De la Concorde — also a commuter rail station
- Montmorency — the northern terminus, next to Cégep Montmorency and Université de Montréal — Campus Laval
Frequency is high on weekdays, about every three to five minutes during rush hour.
3. The STL bus network
The STL runs over 40 bus routes in Laval. Several feed into the metro stations, so you can easily combine bus and metro on a single fare.
Main routes run until about midnight; a few night routes round out the service. The STL Synchro app lets you track your bus in real time and plan trips.
4. OPUS card and fare zones
Greater Montreal is divided into fare zones managed by the ARTM.
Laval is in Zone B. If you travel only inside Laval, the ALL MODES B pass is enough. If you cross over to the island of Montreal by metro or bus, you need the ALL MODES AB pass.
The monthly pass becomes cheaper if you ride more than 25 times per month.
5. Where to get and reload your OPUS card
You can buy an OPUS card at the ticketing machines in Laval's metro stations, or at the service point of the STL.
Reloading works at the same places, at participating pharmacies and convenience stores, or online via the ARTM site. The photo OPUS card is required for reduced fares — students, 65 and over.
6. Combining STL, metro and commuter rail
De la Concorde station is a key intermodal hub in Laval. It's both an orange-line metro station and a commuter rail station on the exo Saint-Jérôme line. You can step off the train, board the metro and continue to Montreal without changing stations. Several STL bus routes converge here.
For this kind of combination — train plus metro plus bus — an ALL MODES AB pass covers the whole trip as long as all your zones are included. Trips to Saint-Jérôme or Blainville often require additional zones: check on the ARTM site before choosing your pass.
7. ARTM fares for Zone B and A-B at a glance
A summary of the main ARTM passes useful to Laval residents. Exact prices are updated annually by the ARTM on artm.quebec.
If you work in Montreal five days a week, the ALL MODES A-B monthly pass almost always pays off. If you stay mostly in Laval, the B pass is sufficient and costs less.
For trips beyond Laval — north shore, Repentigny, Longueuil — other fare zones apply. The calculator on the ARTM site is the most reliable tool: enter your origin and destination, and it suggests the most economical pass for your profile.
| Pass | Coverage | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| ALL MODES A — monthly | Island of Montreal only | Not suitable for Laval |
| ALL MODES B — single fare | STL bus and metro in Laval | Occasional Laval traveller |
| ALL MODES B — monthly | STL bus and metro in Laval | Lives and works in Laval |
| ALL MODES A-B — single fare | Laval + island of Montreal | One-off trip to Montreal |
| ALL MODES A-B — monthly | Laval + island of Montreal | Works in Montreal, lives in Laval |
| Reduced student or 65+ fare | Same zones, reduced price | Photo OPUS card required |
| Children 6 to 11 | Child fare or free depending on pass | Accompanied by an adult |
| Children under 6 | Free with a paying adult | No pass needed |
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from new Laval residents about public transit: do you pay a supplement to enter the metro at Cartier, can you pay cash on an STL bus, how do bus-to-metro transfers work, and how long does it take to reach downtown Montreal.
Do you pay a supplement to enter the metro at Cartier?
No supplement at the turnstile, but the right pass is required. The orange-line stations in Laval — Cartier, De la Concorde, Montmorency — are in Zone B.
To enter from Laval, you need a Zone B pass for a trip ending in Laval, or a Zone A-B pass to continue into Montreal. Boarding with a Zone A pass alone is not valid in Laval and could lead to a fine. The OPUS validator at the turnstile checks compatibility automatically.
Can you pay cash on an STL bus?
Yes, with exact change. The driver does not make change — like on virtually every Quebec bus network. Always have the exact fare in your hand before boarding.
A reloaded OPUS card avoids this risk and works on every STL bus and at every metro turnstile in Laval and Montreal. The card is a one-time small purchase; status renewal costs a few dollars per year.
How does the bus-to-metro transfer work?
With the OPUS card, the transfer is automatic for a same trip: validate when boarding the STL bus, then validate at the metro turnstile within the validity window — generally about two hours for a single fare. The system recognizes that you're continuing the same trip and does not charge a second time.
Important: the trip must move forward in the same direction; backtracking can sometimes be charged as a new trip. For complex itineraries, planning your route on the STL Synchro app or Google Maps reduces the risk of losing time.
How long does it take from Montmorency to downtown Montreal?
About 25 to 30 minutes door to door from Montmorency to McGill or Place-des-Arts at rush hour, including the typical wait at the platform. The line goes through De la Concorde, then Cartier, then crosses the Rivière des Prairies and serves the entire orange line on the island of Montreal.
Outside rush hour, count an extra 5 to 10 minutes due to less frequent trains. Compared to driving across the bridges in heavy traffic, the metro is often faster and far less stressful.
9. See also
To go further on mobility across Greater Montreal:
- Read using the Montreal metro and bus (STM) to understand the island-side network and pick the right pass.
- Check first steps in Laval to combine OPUS, 311 and municipal services from your first week.
- Prepare your move with finding housing in Laval to target Chomedey or Pont-Viau if you work in Montreal.
10. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information, see these pages:
STL customer service: 450 688-6520.
Author's Note: If you work in Montreal, the monthly ALL MODES AB pass almost always pays off. Run the math in your first week — paying per-trip for just one month often costs more than the pass.
