Express bus still running

A new off-island express bus service that almost hit a road block before getting into first gear has gone ahead with an alternative service provider.

Riders that showed up Tuesday morning for the 5:35 a.m. express bus linking them with various public transportation outlets in Ville St. Laurent did not know what to expect following news that the service had been put on hold before it even debuted.

Despite that almost 300 riders used the buses in the first two days alone.

The service, proposed by the Montreal Metropolitan Transportation Agency, AMT, was in the middle of an administrative power struggle between various transportation agencies and the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, CMM.

The planning, coordinating and funding body serves 82 Montreal region municipalities and oversees transportation among its many mandates.

CMM and AMT officials disagreed on which agency should oversee the new program.

At issue also is if the luxury coach busses will create a two-tiered public transportation system.

Quebec’s minister of transportation has asked the AMT and CMM to iron out their differences.

In the meantime, temporary service will be provided for at least the next three weeks by the Conseil Intermunicipal de Transport La Presqu'Île, CIT, the region’s transportation organization.

Vaudreuil-Dorion mayor and CIT President Guy Pilon said the express busses will run as scheduled.

Pilon added that it is in the interest of the agencies to work out their differences.

The coach busses depart Monday through Friday from the Vaudreuil-Dorion’s train station beginning at 5:35 a.m., or every 25 minutes. The morning service stops at 8:55 a.m.

Afternoon busses return to the train station beginning at 3:10 p.m. and run every 30 minutes until 7:10 p.m.

The air conditioned busses can seat up to 58 people and offer bathroom facilities.