Shuttlebuses to sync with AMT, A40 bus Beginning Nov. 16, Hudson shuttlebus users will have the choice of the train or the bus. (Gazette, Jim Duff)   by Jim Duff   HUDSON - Beginning Monday, Nov. 16, CIT shuttlebus users will have the option of connecting with the A40 express bus or AMT trains at the Vaudreuil AMT station or continuing on to John Abbott College. The A40 Express features four bus departures in the morning and four returning in the evening. The route uses air-conditioned buses with reclining seats, washrooms, even plug-ins for computers and cellphone chargers. The Montreal terminus is the Cote Vertu Metro station, where riders can easily access the St. Laurent Techno-Parc, Vanier College and l'Université de Montréal. There will be no extra cost to Hudson taxpayers for this service, thanks to St. Lazare's recent agreement to cover the cost of additional Hudson CIT shuttles. The temporary agreement expires May 31. CIT director-general Manon Charest says she's waiting for St. Lazare to come back to her with a comprehensive public-transit policy. "CIT La Presqu'ile presented an offer of service and an estimate of costs in August," Charest said last week. "St. Lazare decided to study it further. We're're waiting for their decision. With a new council, we'll see what it gives. "It will be a pleasure to meet with them to inform them of public transport if I get an invitation," she added. "We're prepared to work with St. Lazare if they show any interest." Meanwhile, riders continue to show interest in the A40 Express. About 400 riders take the 18 A40 buses each weekday. The nine morning departures leave full, beginning at 5:35 a.m., and finish at 8:55 p.m., with departures every 25 minutes. In the nine months ending Sept. 30, the CIT has carried 244,058 passengers, compared to 146,984 for all of 2008. The A40 Express accounted for most of the increase, says Charest. "The A40, just for the first nine months of the year, carried 61,818 passengers." Overall, CIT shuttlebus ridership dropped off in September. Charest cites last year's free month and this fall's lower gas prices and the H1N1 flu pandemic, but thinks the biggest factor is the AMT's deteriorating service. "The train isn't punctual. Our service is synchronized with the AMT schedule to deliver people to the train," she noted. "If people aren't satisfied with train service, it impacts us as well." The AMT commuter trains to and from Vaudreuil often run 20 to 30 minutes late, she added. "If you consider that we run five days a week, 14 to 21 late train days a month is huge." The CIT's own statistics underscore the lack of dependability of train service, especially in January and February, said Charest. "Our drivers note the time of arrival. It's not one train that's late. The first is late, the second is late, the eighth is late. It's a chain reaction." By contrast, the A40 runs into occasional delays of no more than to 15 minutes unless there's been a major accident. "I'd say the average delay is about five minutes," she said. "It's a lot more controllable and a lot more dependable." Charest admits the train is handier for users headed downtown, but for those who connect with the Metro, the A40 is a more attractive option. "It's almost always on time."   AMT info session Nov. 23 The AMT is organizing an information session for Monday, Nov. 23 at the Opti-Centre, 145 Harwood Blvd. in Vaudreuil-Dorion, starting at 7 p.m. They're expected to announce what measures they'll be taking this year to improve service this winter.