To end this little series about the new signage in the metro, I'll do a quick wrap-up of what I've gone over in the last two posts, with a few other remarks thrown in.
First and foremost, the improvements are obvious. It's a shame that they will take so long to be fully implemented, because there really is a noticeable difference in the accessibility of the newly-renovated stations compared to the old. The change in font, sizing and case of the letters are all sizable upgrades, as is the standardization of color throughout system signage.
The new metro map is a mixed bag. Its wider spacing and more appropriate use of color at termini are certainly positives, as is its stylistic integration with the rest of the system. However, the station labels lack legibility because of their dull off-white color, which reduces contrast with the background of the map. The use of uppercase letters doesn't help.
The coding of station exits is a massively important step up. It's already a godsend at Square-Victoria-OACI. However, its implementation at Atwater station raises questions: at least one exit, and arguably the exit out of the Alexis-Nihon mall, are left out, which is confusing. What does STM qualify as an exit, and why would it choose to exclude any? These are questions which are not cohesively answered in the upgrades STM has rolled out so far.
The new station maps need improvement, even if they signify that STM is addressing the lack of information it provides riders regarding surrounding areas. The massive amount of bus stations uselessly clutters the map, and the symbols overlap each other confusingly. The 5-minute walking radius illustrated would be a helpful feature if the maps were properly centered, which they are absolutely not.
Together, these elements constitute a modest, although not comprehensive, upgrade to the current generation of signage in the metro. The biggest problems with this system's effectiveness aren't within the details I've just summed up. They are infrastructural, and there are two of them: one, the abject lack of any signage at many metro stations, notably stations like Bonaventure, and two, the snail-like pace at which the changes are occurring. Both of these issues completely defeat the point of a cohesive signage system itself, and are, in my opinion, the two biggest hindrances to the effectiveness of these upgrades.