The Agence Métropolitaine de Transport has put out tenders seeking operators for two new bus routes it is planning. The first links the Vaudreuil train station on the Montreal-Dorion/Rigaud line to the Côte-Vertu metro station along highway 40, to start service in September.
Departures would be Mondays to Fridays (excluding holidays) on the following schedule
Eastbound: 5:35, 6:00, 6:25, 6:50, 7:15, 7:40, 8:05, 8:30, 8:55
15:50, 16:20, 16:50, 17:20, 17:50, 18:20
Westbound: 6:10, 6:35, 7:00, 7:25, 7:50, 8:15
15:10, 15:40, 16:10, 16:40, 17:10, 17:40, 18:10, 18:40, 19:10
Estimated travel time is 35 minutes eastbound and 40 minutes westbound. The only stop between the two terminuses would be at Côte-Vertu and Beaulac.
The other one links the Panama bus terminus and Chevrier park-and-ride lot to Nuns’ Island (specifically, the new Bell campus at the northern tip of the island) by the Champlain bridge. It would start in August.
Departures are Mondays to Fridays (excluding holidays) as follows:
Toward Nuns’ Island (travel time: 23 minutes): 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00, 7:20, 7:40, 8:00, 8:20, 8:40
14:45, 15:05, 15:25, 15:45, 16:05, 16:25, 16:45, 17:05, 17:25
Toward Chevrier (travel time: 20 minutes): 6:25, 6:45, 7:05, 7:25, 7:45, 8:05, 8:25, 8:45, 9:05
15:00, 15:20, 15:40, 16:00, 16:20, 16:40, 17:00, 17:20, 17:40, 18:10
Both routes are suburb-to-suburb routes which represent an exodus from the hub-and-spoke system that defines rush-hour transit currently.
The AMT’s contract stipulations are also fun to read. They cover things like making sure the buses have wheelchair access and will be air-conditioned (by Jan. 1, 2009) to ensuring that drivers make eye contact when passengers board.
(via metrodemontreal and CPTDB)
I’m not sure I get the logic of this particular link to the Rigaud rail line. Basically, it’s a bus running parallel to the Rigaud line across the western half of the island. Shouldn’t the city be encouraging people to take the metro south to Vendome to the intermodal station and simply get on the train there? It’s greener than adding more vehicular traffic.
The Vaudreuil train station is also a hub for the Vaudreuil local transit network. And the AMT is still frustrated by the limits on their use of the tracks for the train line.
This bus would replace drivers who go from Vaudreuil to St. Laurent, Mount Royal, Ahuntsic or other northern destinations.
how about a RESERVED bus lane from Fairview to Cote-Vertu metro? how about a bus from Dorval Train Staton to Fairview Pointe Claire? (i.e. one that doesn’t take 45 minutes)? how about a RESERVED bus lane on highway 20? What’s the point of an express bus that sits in the same traffic as everyone else?
I can afford to drive downtown and I have a company paid for parking spot, why would I take he bus so I can stand and smell other people’s BO? Let’s be realistic, MOST people wont’ take the bus unless it gives them a tangible benefit. Sure, I save money takign the bus/train but I lose 90 minutes a day (compared to driving).
Agree 100% with Homer. I would rather “enjoy” the traffic in my car than in this new express buss…
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