By Kevin Woodhouse
www.thesuburban.com
After trying the pilot project of changing the 470 Express bus stop from the Fairview terminal to Brunswick Boulevard for a week, the STM announced that the stop will go back to its original spot.
The change came into effect for Monday morning’s commute.
“It was after observing the new route for several days that the STM decided to make the adjustments necessary to being the 470 back to the terminus,” explained STM spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay.
For longtime bus commuter Julian Rodriquez, who brought the safety issue up last week, was pleased with the STM’s swift decision. The Pierrefonds resident called the announcement “great news regarding the operating conditions and safety hazards for both transit users and bus drivers were problematic from the start.”
Rodriquez does have some concerns when John Abbott College students return to classes next week, adding to the number of commuters walking around the terminus, especially in the afternoon hours “when the mall is open so there are more drivers, pedestrians and transit users.”
In order to accommodate the larger, articulated buses, the 419 JAC Express bus and the 217 for l’Anse à l’Orme will be moved onto Brunswick Boulevard as well as changes to the 205 and 206 stops.
“The changes will make it safer for the articulated bus to negotiate the terminus and the open so there are more drivers, pedestrians and transit users.”
In order to accommodate the larger, articulated buses, the 419 JAC Express bus and the 217 for l’Anse à l’Orme will be moved onto Brunswick Boulevard as well as changes to the 205 and 206 stops.
“The changes will make it safer for the articulated bus to negotiate the terminus and the 470 move best thing to do right now reduce safety issues for everyone.”
The STM plan to update and renovate the terminus at Fairview in the coming months to allow for the larger buses to gain access to the site.
“The terminus at Fairview was built in the 1980s and not designed for the articulated buses,” said STM spokesperson Alain Labelle. “The stops on Brunswick are temporary measures as we plan to change the terminus to accommodate the articulated buses.”
