By Kevin Woodhouse
www.thesuburban.com
Once again, the Agence métropolitaine de Transport (AMT) will be holding public consultations and regular commuters on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line should circle next Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m., on their calendars.
For some people, attending public meetings can be akin to paint drying but one of the top trends for West Island residents I meet is increased traffic congestion and the need for improved public transportation.
Having attended numerous AMT consultations over the years, only a few have actually had a decent quorum. I remember one visit to the Holiday Inn Pointe Claire, where this year’s event is happening, to see almost as many AMT employees on the stage as there were in attendance.
That the West Island has long been neglected for public transportation improvements is an understatement and with traffic already a challenge, what can we expect once the Turcot exchange project begins in earnest?
I’ve said it before and will say it again, short of the development of hover cars a la Blade Runner, the Train de l’ouest is the off and West Island’s best hope of ever leaving our car dependent culture behind us. Although it still will not touch upon the need for better north-south public transportation for residents of DDO and Pierrefonds-Roxboro who are wasting way too much time in rush hour traffic just trying to get to a highway to get into the city.
President and CEO Nicolas Girard will be present to discuss the year in review as well as talk about the line’s future.
Bring a family member or friend but if improved rail services are something important to you, show the AMT that it is important for the off and West Island at large.
Sending a clear message is one way to ensure that important projects like Train de l’ouest have the backing of the population and the numbers to prove it.
The AMT public consultation on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line will take place this coming Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Pointe Claire, 6700 Trans Canada. Go online at amt.qc.ca/consultations for more details.
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