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First in a four-part series.

The idea of a métro on tires came from Paris.

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The idea of the subway as a showcase for art and architecture came from Moscow.

But when the Montreal métro opened on Oct. 14, 1966, it was a uniquely local creation.

“I wouldn’t call it a Quebec product, or a Canadian product. I would call it a Montreal product. It was really done by Montrealers,” said Guy Legault, the city’s assistant director of urban planning during the first phase of métro construction from 1962-67.

Photo by Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette

Fifty years after a million passengers filled the métro on its first weekend in operation — oohing and aahing over the cobalt blue trains and soaring stations with their colourful mosaics and stained-glass — Legault’s passion for the underground transit system he helped create is undiminished.

“The métro is the most beautiful example of an urban institution. The métro glorifies the city. It’s a gathering place. It’s a place where people come together. The métro is extraordinary,” said Legault, 84, who oversaw the architectural plans for the initial network.

Widely regarded as the greatest achievement of Mayor Jean Drapeau’s 30-year reign (from 1954 to 1957 and 1960 to 1986), the rubber-wheeled subway has become an indispensable feature of the city it has transformed in myriad and profound ways.