MONTREAL - The Montreal Metropolitan Transit Agency (AMT) is holding five public meetings this month to solicit opinions about how to improve public transit.

Montrealers often give public transit good but mixed grades when it comes to shuttling them around town.

According to AMT president and CEO Joel Gauthier, part of the problem is the lack of synchronicity between buses, trains, and the metro.

He aims to integrate all three methods "to make sure that people, when they're using public transit, it's seamless from one transit system to another."

The AMT would like to add more express buses and increase capacity through new subway cars and electric commuter trains, especially to the West Island, where commuters will be affected by the rebuilding of the Turcot Interchange and Highway 20.

Commuters at Wednesday night's meeting also expressed an interest in getting updates about service in real time, with several panning the current notification system for train delays as inadequate.

"I must admit I think I still have some cynicism," said Tony Frayne, a member of the Transport 2000 Quebec citizen's group "They've had good plans in Montreal before but it doesn't always happen."

Four more meetings will take place in April, and the official strategic plan will be unveiled at the end of the summer.

Only then will the AMT comment on the price tag.





For the schedule of public hearings, click here.





