The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) bus network is about to be transformed in L’Île-des-Sœurs, in order to make “more efficient” connections with the future Réseau express métropolitain (REM) station. ). An opportunity to “change the way of life” oriented first towards the car, believes the Plante administration.
“This is a golden opportunity to change the way of life that is heavily car-oriented. According to the latest Origin-Destination survey, we know that more than 60% of trips on L’Île-des-Sœurs are made by car. This transition to sustainable mobility is really very exciting, ”said Verdun Borough Mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger at a press conference on Tuesday.
Main highlight of the redesign: two new lines running in both directions will see the light of day. First, the 172 Chemin-du-Golf, which will run on weekdays with a frequency of 10 minutes during rush hour. Then, the 176 Berlioz, which will circulate all week with a peak frequency of 8 minutes. Both will culminate at the REM station.
The first will keep the same frequency, but will now serve the Pointe-Nord sector all week. The second will see its service be adjusted “slightly downward” to offer service on rue Berlioz and boulevard Robert-Bourassa. Its terminus will also be moved to the Lucien-L’Allier station.
“We are completely changing the portrait of mobility on L’Île-des-Sœurs,” said STM president Éric Alan Caldwell. While some “destination points change”, everything has been thought out to “improve the performance of the lines attached to them”, he argued, insisting that the new network serves “all sectors of L’Île-des-Sœurs”, while maintaining a link to downtown.
To “compensate” for the downward adjustment of the 168, the 74 Bridge line will however be “upgraded” and will be in service in the evenings and on weekends. It will thus circulate all week long in both directions, on boulevard Robert-Bourassa.
Note: two lines, circuit 21 Place-du-Commerce and route 178 Pointe-Nord/IDS, will however be abolished in order to “harmonize” the service. Users are now invited to use lines 12 and 168 which have been modified. All these adjustments will be in effect “on day 1” of the delivery of the REM on the South Shore, the commissioning date of which is still not confirmed. CDPQ Infra is officially aiming for “Spring”, which ends on June 21.
Aware that there could be imperfections, the STM however promises “to adjust the level of service according to field observations and customer needs” that may arise. An information campaign will also be deployed on social and digital media, and in bus shelters.
The redesign announced Tuesday in L’Île-des-Sœurs was the first of its kind to be unveiled by the STM. Fifteen other sectors will be subject to similar reform in the coming months, as the REM rolls out. “It’s not over. We invite you to follow us to have the rest of the story over the next few years, ”said the CEO of the company, Marie-Claude Léonard.