Saint-Lazare’s new shuttle bus service debuted on Monday. (Daniel Cuillerier)
Saint-Lazare launched its first-ever public transit bus service at 4:59 a.m. on Monday morning, in time for a new school year.
Communications officer Elaine Gadoury admitted town officials were thrilled to learn several riders rode bus #51 on Monday, though she could not give exact numbers.
“We wanted to know how many riders used the service the first day but were told (by the Conseil intermunicipal de transport La Presqu’Île) that we’ll will only find out (early) statistics sometime next week,” she said.
And it may be a few more months before the town considers any rout or time changes to what is currently a one year pilot project.
During an official service launch held on August 17, Mayor Pierre Kary said he expects some changes will be necessary.
“We’re not the first town to offer this shuttle bus service and other towns that have introduced it, like Vaudreuil-Dorion, have had to alter the schedule or stops according to feedback from riders.”
Kary said it took close to 10 months to iron out costs and details with the CIT La Presqu’Île.
Saint-Lazare will pay $315,000 a year that will come from the town’s general fund for the use of one bus that can seat 22 people and offer standing room to nine others. Most of that amount is expected to be recouped with bus ticket sales.
Government subsidies will also help cover costs.
Routs
Saint-Lazare’s bus #51 will offer seven morning trips to the Vaudreuil-Dorion train station and seven afternoon trips. The bus will make 42 stops along the way. It should be able to get to Vaudreuil in about 17 minutes from downtown Saint-Lazare.
Kary notes the service will allow residents to link to Montreal’s commuter network.
“You can take the train to Montreal, another shuttle to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue or an express bus to Saint-Laurent, so this really is a public transport link to everything,” he said.
From Vaudreuil, residents will be able to access commuter trains to downtown Montreal and the buses and metros of the Société de transport de Montréal.
Saint-Lazare will be part of zone 5 in the network.
The bus will begin its run each weekday morning from the Ultramar on côte Saint-Charles. Stops are scheduled between route de la Cité-des-Jeunes and chemin Saint-Louis and the Vaudreuil train station. A monthly TRAM pass, giving full access to AMT trains and STM buses and the metro, will cost $112 for students.
Kary expects college age people will be the service’s biggest users, followed by business people wanting to avoid the daily drive to Montreal.
Users will soon be able to purchase tickets at the Saint-Lazare Pharmaprix, located at 1780, chemin Sainte-Angélique. Until then, tickets can be purchased at the various points of service published on the CIT La Presqu’Île website. People can also buy tickets directly from bus drivers if they have exact amounts.
Meanwhile, CIT La Presqu’Île announced that Coteau-du-Lac, Saint-Zotique and Les Coteaux will also begin offering bus services to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion as of next week.
The move brings to 10 the total number of MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges towns with public transportation shuttle bus service.
For a list of routes, timetables and costs for any routs in the region contact CIT La Presqu’Île in person at 418, avenue Saint-Charles, suite 211 in Vaudreuil-Dorion, by calling 450 424-2485, or online at www.citlapresquile.qc.ca.
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