The True Cost of Transportation in Montreal
Every dollar spent by pedestrians saves society money — every dollar spent driving costs $1.55
How much does your commute really cost — not just to you, but to society? This question is at the heart of a research project I conducted with Gabrielle Beaudin and Muriel Julien, graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Development at HEC Montréal.
The big picture
Quebec’s transportation sector must undergo a radical transformation to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. But decarbonization goes beyond electric vehicles — it requires rethinking modal choices entirely. To do that, we need to understand the true costs of those choices.
We built a new tool to evaluate the real costs of walking, biking, driving, and public transit, accounting for private costs (what you pay), public costs (what taxpayers pay), and external costs (what society bears through pollution, health impacts, and more).
Key findings
The results are striking. Every dollar spent by pedestrians and cyclists saves society $0.01 and $0.12 respectively. Automobiles, by contrast, impose a social cost of $1.55 per dollar spent, and public transit costs $0.49. The gap between individual perception and social reality is enormous.
We also found significant disparities across demographics and geography — suburban commuters face particularly high costs, and the areas that most need decarbonization are precisely those where car dependence is highest.
Perhaps most importantly, we identified population segments for whom switching to sustainable transport is economically viable today, without financial sacrifice or time loss. Modal shift scenarios project savings of nearly $2 billion annually for Montreal alone, along with substantial improvements in public health and emissions.
Explore the full project
The project includes interactive maps, a personal cost calculator, and detailed results by region. Visit the full project page to explore all the data and tools.
You can also:
- Read the full report (PDF, in French)
- Try the online calculator
- Watch the webinar presentation (YouTube)
Benatia, D., Beaudin, G., and Julien, M. (2024). Mobility Montreal: The True Cost of Transportation Choices.
