Friday 5 November 2010

Transit Wars in Montreal:We Need More Buses and Fewer Cars

A flurry of activity on the transit front in Montreal:

Mayor Gérald Tremblay wants to tax vehicules registered in the city.

Richard Bergéron, leader of the environmentally friendly Projet Montréal, has resigned/been fired as a member of the city's executive committee because he won't approve a new plan for the reconstruction of a major traffic interchange, sight unseen.

Road construction projects as well as rebuilding Montreal's aging water system makes traffic congestion terrible.

The public transport system needs much reinforcement in order to meet growing demand.

Will it happen? Let's see if the annoyoance of all those people caught in traffic jams results in anything other than more highways.

One good thing: The major public transit provider, the Société de transport de Montréal, won the 2010 Outstanding Public Transportation System in North America. The award was given in October for the "excellent results" between 2007 and 2009 in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. According to the press release announcing the Award, "the STM registered 382.8 million linked rides in 2009, some 19.5 million more than in 2006, a 5.4% growth rate. Its paratransit service for the disabled provided more than 2.4 million rides in 2009, a 16% increase over 2006. The overall satisfaction level of transit users also rose from 84% in 2006 to 86% in 2009. "

Steps in the right direction, for sure.

2 comments:

lagatta à montréal said...

Mary, would you have any idea why they KEEP digging up Bernard, both in Mile End and Outremont? I have a friend who lives on that street who has given up hope of seeing a 160 bus... Not possible to cycle or drive either, and scarcely to walk.

Mary Soderstrom said...

Supposedlly it all will be done by the end of November. But we shall shee!