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Commuters living in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges area, west of Montreal, can expect to see a complete overhaul of their bus network this spring.
The imminent opening of the REM’s Anse-à-l’Orme branch — connecting the West Island city of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to downtown Montreal — is resulting in a review of bus routes, schedules, stops and bus numbers.
Public transit authority Exo says the goal is to improve service and enhance connectivity to the main transit networks, such as the REM and the Vaudreuil-Hudson train line.
Here’s what’s changing.
3 popular bus lines to be cancelled
Bus line 40, which connects the Vaudreuil-Dorion train station to the Côte-Vertu Metro terminal, will be cancelled.
Instead, people can take the 490 bus, the 491 and the 591 from the Vaudreuil-Dorion train station to the REM.
Another bus line being cancelled is the 91, which connects the Vaudreuil-Dorion train station to Cegep Gérald-Godin in Sainte-Geneviève.
As a replacement, commuters will be able to take the REM at the Anse-à-l’Orme station, then continue their journey using the REM or Société de transport de Montréal (STM) services.
The 44 bus will also no longer exist, which connects Pincourt–Terrasse-Vaudreuil station to John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
The new 493 bus will go from Vaudreuil-Dorion train station, through Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, to get to John Abbott College.
Exo says its website “Secteur La Presqu’Ile” will have updates for commuters with information about buses and route changes.
The ARTM says the goal is to improve access to public transit and offer more options for reaching the REM when it opens. (Chloë Ranaldi/ CBC)
The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) says the goal of the overhaul is to improve public transit services.
“While some routes will see changes to their paths, the goal remains to maintain — and even improve — access to public transit by offering more efficient routes and new options for reaching REM stations for the majority of riders coming from outside the island,” said a spokesperson for the regional transit agency.
Exo teams will also be on the ground to inform and help people with the changes.
The changes won’t take effect until the REM opens its new line, for which a date has yet to be announced.
A new testing phase ahead of the branch’s opening began March 6.