A public consultation held on May 10 for the AMT Deux Montagnes train line brought in few citizens but substantial changes were announced. Each station will have new screens installed with updated schedules. The biggest change will be seen between Sunnybrooke and Bois-Franc where the tracks will be doubled and a study will be done to possibly add a station. AMT’s chief executive, Joël Gauthier, was not present but in his place were vice president of planning Michel Veilleux and vice president of operations Nancy Fréchette. Also in attendance was Pierre-Luc Paquette, the ATM’s vice president of communication.
By the numbers
After dealing with many complaints from the 2008-09 winter, the ATM decided to allow users of the train lines to voice their concerns. Several public consultations were held in 2009. The ATM is continuing in the same tradition for 2010. The consultation on May 10 began with an overview of the entire ATM public transit system. Quoting from a study completed in 2008, Veilleux went over various statistics of interest.
“We have a 15 per cent increase in people using public transit,” he said. “We haven’t seen a trend like that in a very long time.”
The number is highest in the West Island which saw an increase of 21 per cent in usage. More than 30,000 people use the Deux Montagnes line on a daily basis but 80 per cent of them still have cars. Despite that, there was a 3 per cent decrease in car usage in the West Island. While there is a steady increase in the population and jobs in the West Island, the downtown core still reigns as the area with the most jobs.
Paquette also emphasized the potential for a leisurely use of the train system. The AMT will advertise to promote using the train as a fun family outing, something they put in place three years ago.
“We are very happy with it,” said Paquette. “The trips on the train can be cultural or nature voyages. It should be fun for the family.”
Specific to Deux Montagnes
Some big changes are coming to the Deux Montagnes line in the next few years, the vice presidents announced.
There are presently screens at each station but they will be upgraded and more will be placed.
“Right now, the (screens) display the scheduled time (of arrival),” said Paquette. “We are hoping to soon have where the train is on the route and how much time remains until it arrives at that station. We will put these screens up starting this summer.”
The plan is to add 8 more screens at the Pierrefonds station by September 2010 as well as 6 at the Sunnybrooke station.
The biggest change will be seen between the Sunnybrooke station and Bois-Franc where a second track will be added to accommodate more people. The train will continue to run during construction and should not affect the schedule. “This is a construction that will permit us to have more flexibility with the schedule and to increase the capacity of the train line,” said Veilleux. “this will be combined with the arrival of our new (double-decker) trains.”
A study will also be conducted on the possibility of adding a station between Sunnybrooke and the Bois-Franc station.
