Montreal is lagging behind other major Canadian cities in public transit use, according to a new national study from the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

While ridership is up by an average of 3.42 per cent across the country, public transit use only increased by less than one per cent in Montreal in the first half of 2006, according to the CUTA study.

Those figures put Montreal in last place of Canadian cities with populations above 400,000. In contrast, Gatineau has increased public transit use by 7.6 per cent.

Even the combined ridership on all three public transit systems in the greater Montreal area only shows a modest 1.25 per cent growth.

The Montreal Transit Corporation was quick to question the significance of the study.

MTC vice-president Marvin Rotrand said about 370 million riders use the network every year, a number comparable to other cities.

"Montreal figures actually compare very well," Rotrand told CBC. "Montreal carries far more riders and a far greater share than some of the other agencies, that are starting at a lower base, so it's easier for them to have a higher growth percentage."

But attracting new riders is a challenge, he said, adding: "We just don't have the money to do more than we're doing."

The MTC had a banner year in 2002, with nine million new passengers. But that increase was due mostly to a new discounted student pass and more frequent service on high-volume bus and subway routes.

Any new increase in ridership could only be generated through more funding for the transit system, Rotrand said.

The cost of a Montreal transit pass has increased 15 per cent since 2002. On January 1, 2007, a regular pass will cost $65, up from $63.

Overall public transit use encouraging

In a statement, CUTA chairwoman Penny Williams said the study's overall findings are heartening because it shows "more Canadians are choosing transit as their preferred way to travel."

The upward trend could continue, Williams added, as new incentives encourage Canadians to ride the bus, subway or commuter train for inner-city travel.

"The new federal tax credit for transit passes that came into effect in July of this year may encourage even more people to choose transit," she said.

Transit ridership across the country will likely hit record highs, if the trend continues, said CUTA president Michael Roschlau. "This represents an increase of 30 million transit trips, which is equal to the entire number of rides at a system the size of the city of Edmonton."