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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.
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