To read the full press release in French, click here.

Projet Montreal NDG’s rapid reaction was  : let’s try it in the morning when traffic is backing up just west of Girouard, but there is no clear need for it from 4 to 6pm since there is no traffic jam west of Girouard and local stores need parking at that time.

Since then we have discovered one new problem: because a safe bus lane must be 3.2M wide, when it is in effect from 7-9am, only one free lane of traffic would be left eastbound (rather than the current two), aggravating traffic delays leading to Girouard The STM might have to make Sherbrooke St. three lanes wide (apart from the parking-bus lane) between Girouard and Hingston (where one way west Côte-Saint-Antoine merges in)  : two eastward and only one westward.

Meanwhile, the STM accepts one simple improvement: move the 105 stop at Cavendish to the east side so the buses no longer get caught in or hold up the long line of cars turning right. This is the way it is at Girouard already except for the 420 stop which will join the 105 on the east side when the entrance to the 720east to downtown is closed.

Here is a complete guide for the STM on what NDG needs from bus lanes:

-FASTER : their current bus lane plan aims for this, and they will measure any progress that would allow the same number of buses on the route to add more departures.

-MORE CAPACITY: too bad no accordion buses are available and the turn around loop at Elmhurst is not expanded yet. Should we prepare for them now by lengthening the bus stops while lowering the number of stops slightly? The weakness of the current plan is that the buses may be slightly faster, but just as full as ever from Grand to Vendome…

-SAFER: bus stops should be moved to corners with pedestrian signals long enough for the elderly to cross safely. Add a pedestrian traffic light at Walkley and Sherbrooke now to cut up a long, hard to cross stretch and ease up the load at busy dangerous Cavendish. 

-FURTHER. How will full 420 buses get downtown with the 720 east entrance ramp closed at St-Jacques? Will the STM run a Sherbrooke St.bus lane through Westmount? At the other end, could the 90, 105 or 51 route extend to Dorval so west-enders would not have to go downtown to catch the 747 to the airport?

-ELECTRIC, cleaner and quieter. NDG is allowed to dream isn’t it…

Let your voice be heard and let us know what you think of the STM’s plan by filling out this survey.

Your NDG city councillor Peter McQueen and your Loyola candidate Christian Arseneault