Getting around Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Ahuntsic-Cartierville sits in the north end of Montreal, on the banks of the Rivière des Prairies. It is a borough of the city, made up of the neighbourhoods of Ahuntsic and Cartierville, and it borders Montréal-Nord to the east, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension to the southeast, Saint-Laurent to the southwest, and Pierrefonds-Roxboro to the west. For a visitor, the practical upshot is that this is a well-connected part of the island: several metro stations, commuter rail stops, and major boulevards run through it, and downtown Montreal is a straightforward trip away.
How visitors get around Montreal
Montreal's public transit network is operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), which serves the Montréal area with métro lines, a large network of bus lines, and a bus rapid transit (SRB) line. The STM network is the backbone of car-free travel in the city, and it is complemented by the Réseau de transport métropolitain (commuter rail) and the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), a newer light-rail system. Together these modes let a visitor reach most of the island and its surroundings without a car.
For a visitor based in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, the most useful thing to understand is that the borough is served by all three of these layers: the métro, the commuter rail, and — just beyond its border — the REM.
Métro, commuter rail and the REM
The borough is served by three stations on the north-eastern part of the Montreal Metro's Orange line, which runs underneath Berri Street:
- Henri-Bourassa station, on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard
- Sauvé station, on Sauvé Street
- Crémazie station, on Crémazie Boulevard
Because these are on the Orange line, they connect directly into the wider métro system, making it easy to ride into the centre of the city and transfer to other lines.
Commuter rail service in the borough is provided by the Réseau de transport métropolitain, with four stations in Ahuntsic-Cartierville:
- Bois-de-Boulogne and Chabanel stations, on the Saint-Jérôme line, both located on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard
- Ahuntsic and Sauvé stations, on the Mascouche line, near Sauvé Street
Note that Sauvé appears twice in the list of stations — once as a métro stop and once as a commuter rail stop — which makes it a useful interchange point between the two networks.
The REM also serves the area indirectly: Bois-Franc station on the Réseau express métropolitain is located on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in the nearby borough of Saint-Laurent, just outside Ahuntsic-Cartierville. It is a short trip from the borough and gives access to the light-rail network.
Montreal's tram network is a matter of history rather than present-day travel: Cartierville grew as a suburb when it became the north terminus of the Montreal Park and Island Railway tramway line, known as the "17-Cartierville", in 1898. Today, visitors should plan around the métro, commuter rail, REM, and buses rather than trams.
Buses and other public transport
Buses fill in the gaps between rail and métro stations and are often the most direct way to reach a specific address in the borough. The STM operates a large bus network across Montréal, including a bus rapid transit (SRB) line, and buses connect with métro, train, and REM services.
One thing worth knowing if you are planning a trip in the near future: in Spring 2026, the STM launched a major bus network overhaul affecting many bus lines, with routes modified, replaced, or newly launched. The changes were concentrated primarily in the Centre-Nord and West Island sectors, and the Centre-Nord sector includes Ahuntsic-Cartierville along with Saint-Laurent, Côte-des-Neiges, Mont-Royal, and Outremont. The purpose of the redesign was to improve convenience and connections with the REM, particularly the new Anse-à-l'Orme branch.
Within the Centre-Nord sector, some bus lines were replaced, including 19 Chabanel / Marché Central, 30 Saint-Denis / Saint-Hubert, 46 Casgrain, 126 Thimens / Grenet, 146 Christophe-Colomb / Meilleur, and 465 Express Côte-des-Neiges. Other lines were modified rather than replaced: 13, 31, 54, 119, and 140. If you are relying on a route number you remember from an older trip, check the current STM information before you travel, since the line may have changed.
Beyond the bus, the STM network also includes taxibus service, and the overhaul touched bus, metro, train, taxibus, and REM modes together — a reminder that these services are designed to work as one connected system.
Tickets and passes
Fares and passes for the STM and the wider regional network are managed through the transit authorities' ticketing system. For a visitor, the practical approach is to buy your fare or pass through the official STM channels and to check what is included before you travel, since a single fare, a day pass, and a multi-day pass cover different things. Because the métro, bus, commuter rail, and REM are operated by different agencies, not every ticket is valid on every mode, so confirm coverage for the specific trip you plan to make — especially if your journey combines, say, a bus ride with a commuter train.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are available in Montreal and are a reasonable option for trips that are awkward by transit, for late-night travel, or for reaching a specific destination with luggage. They are particularly handy for connecting between the borough's rail and métro stations and an address that is a long walk from the nearest stop. As with any city, confirm the fare or the app estimate before you set off.
Walkability
Ahuntsic-Cartierville is a large borough — it covers just under 23 square kilometres — so walking is best suited to exploring individual neighbourhoods rather than crossing the whole borough. Some parts are especially rewarding on foot. The historic village of Sault-au-Récollet, one of the oldest villages on the island of Montreal, still retains its village atmosphere, with many houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is noted for Visitation Church, one of the oldest churches in Montreal and a listed historical monument, and the village and Île de la Visitation are surrounded by the green space of the Parc-Nature de l'Île de la Visitation. A museum and cultural centre, the Maison du Pressoir, perpetuates the memory of the area's milling history.
The borough also has plenty of green space for a stroll: Île Perry and Parc de l'Île de la Visitation offer views of the river and of nearby Laval, while Ahuntsic Park and Marcelin-Wilson Park are the borough's main parks, with playgrounds, skate parks, and arenas housing ice rinks. Ahuntsic Park also has a dog park, a community garden, a water playground, and a large open field used for seasonal events, while Marcelin-Wilson Park has a swimming pool, tennis courts, and soccer fields.
Cycling is another good way to get around: the borough is traversed by the Route Verte, a province-wide network of bicycle paths.
Main streets and boulevards that help you orient yourself on foot or by bike include Henri-Bourassa, Fleury, Sauvé, L'Acadie, Chabanel, Gouin, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Denis, and Salaberry.
Getting from the airport into the city
Montreal's main airport is Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, and the standard way into the city is by public transit or by taxi or ride-hailing. The airport is connected to the city's transit network, and the métro, bus, and commuter rail services described above are how you continue onward once you reach the city. If your destination is Ahuntsic-Cartierville, you can expect to connect through the downtown network and then ride the Orange line to Henri-Bourassa, Sauvé, or Crémazie, or take a commuter train to one of the borough's rail stations. Taxis and ride-hailing are the simpler door-to-door alternative, especially if you are arriving with luggage or late at night.
Because fares, routes, and airport connections are subject to change — and because the STM bus network was recently overhauled — it is worth checking current schedules and fare information from the official transit operators before you travel.