Prolonged REM closure: will the mitigation measurements be sufficient?

The closure of the Metropolitan Express Network (REM) for six weeks from Saturday raises concerns in the organizations for public transport. Meanwhile, where the insufficient mitigation measures are feared encourage users to return to the automobile.

This closure of REMfrom July 5 to August 17. Therefore, is necessary, according to CDPQ Infra, to carry out the tests which will lead to the commissioning of the new West-of-l’Île, North Rive and Center of Montreal segments this fall.

This one. Nevertheless, a half stop is added to several impromptu service interruptions and more than five months of full closure of the network on weekends. Nevertheless, What put to prolonged rem closure: will mitigation the test of users’ patience.

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In order to overcome the closure of REM During these six weeks. Furthermore, the regular schedule of the Longueuil transport network (RTL) will be maintained for the bus lines connecting the stations of the REM At the Longueuil metro.

Free shuttles will also be put into service between the stations of REM de Brossard, Île-des-Sœurs and downtown Montreal. For example, These shuttles must spend every two minutes at rush hour. In addition, every four minutes during rush period and every 10 to 20 minutes the rest of the time.

The frequency of buses that serve the Longueuil and Angrignon terminus will also be increased.

Capacity question – Prolonged rem closure: will mitigation

But will it be enough to effectively absorb the flow of users that use the REM To come. Furthermore, go to downtown Montreal? Nevertheless, Jean-Michel Laliberté, co-spokesperson of prolonged rem closure: will mitigation the association for the public transport of the South Shore, in doubt. Nevertheless,

Interview with Jean-Michel Laliberté: the REM closed for 6 weeks

ENGINE MAI FIRSTA whole morning

Recalling that a bus transports an average of 55 to 60 people, Mr. For example, Laliberté does not believe that buses. even every two minutes, will be able to compete with the ability of REM which is 600 passengers per train.

Users will therefore have to prolonged rem closure: will mitigation provide long queues and busy bus during rush hour. Others will have to fall back on the circuits that lead to the Longueuil metro.

The free problem – Prolonged rem closure: will mitigation

Questioned at the microphone of the program A whole morning On the problems that his body anticipates in the face of this prolonged closure of the REMin addition to buses’ capacity problems. Mr. Laliberté has also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of free shuttles that will connect the city center to the. South Shore.

We have a fear that certain users who have the choice between the REM [les navettes] where the Longueuil metro choose the REM Due to gratuitousness. This could lead even more travelers than expected on the attenuation lines, he fears.

The fact that all users are directed to the terminus. stations of the REM Also created a concentration of travelers which could have been avoided, according to him, by diversifying on the territory of the South Shore the departure sites of the bus lines to the city center.

What we would have liked is that there are departures directly from. the districts of users to the city center. It is more pleasant for the user than having to get off from a bus. then to meet “jam pack“In another bus.

Mr. Laliberté would also like to be sure that work on the network of REM will indeed be completed on August 17 due to the collegial. university return which bring a significant flow of additional users on the network from August.

Communication to users

Information communication to users of REM And public transport on the South Shore must also be improved. underlines Jean-Michel Laliberté.

We did a survey from January 22 to 29, when the new [de la fermeture prolongée] is out. We had 45 % of users who did not even prolonged rem closure: will mitigation know that the REM was going to be closed during the summer.

Even a few days before the closure of REMhe underlines. you have to look for the website to obtain information on the shuttle and buses schedule.

After two. three clicks, we know what information is about shuttles and everything, but that does not come out on the first page. We do not know on the first page that there will be a closure.

Mr. Laliberté is formal: It takes additional prolonged rem closure: will mitigation communication efforts.

Fear of a return to the car

The arrival of REM On the South Shore has not been easy in recent years for users of the South Shore who travel every day between their home. downtown Montreal. So much so that many fear that by dint of service interruptions. people are tempted to turn to their car definitively to go to work.

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This is what we fear. because the main competitor of public transportation is not the bus or REMit’s the automobile. The person who has a car, she may use itexplains Jean-Michel Laliberté.

Not to mention that it is more and more expensive to use public transport in the Montreal region.

More expensive public transport

For a person living on the South Shore. it is indeed necessary to count between $ 164 and $ 200 to obtain a monthly pass, depending on the price prolonged rem closure: will mitigation area where you live.

A simple round trip to Montreal from Longueuil (AB zone) costs $ 9.75. A Longueuil couple who would like to go see a show in Montreal. for example, should pay nearly $ 20 round trip, significantly the price of parking in the city center.

It’s starting to do expensiverecognizes Mr. Laliberté, who would have liked a break side increase.

If we increase the metro then put in place insufficient measures given the closure of the REMwell. somewhere, we shoot ourselves in the foot.