Bus, metro changes for the rentree
Had email this morning reminding me of several changes in STM bus routes for the rentrée, including the splitting of the long 435 express that has covered the entirety of the 80 and 165 routes at rush hour, into the 480 and 465. The expresses will only go south in the morning and northward in the evening*.
Some of the improvements are cast in terms of lightening the load on the eastern half of the orange line, and Papineau will have a reserved bus lane for the new 445 route.
*Montreal directions apply.
CE 12:42 on 2019-08-22 Permalink
I’m sure the replacement for the 435 will make planning buses easier for the STM but I’m having trouble understanding the new schedule. At least they’re now north-bound and south-bound instead of west and east like they used to be. When standing on the corner at Parc looking at the transit app or posted schedule, I always had to think a bit about which direction it would take me.
EmilyG 18:22 on 2019-08-22 Permalink
There will be a new bus, the 445. It’ll go from my place right to downtown! I’m pretty hyped. 🙂
Faiz Imam 20:56 on 2019-08-22 Permalink
Yeah, that new express bus might be the most important part of the changes. A lot of blue line users who fear the mess that is transferring to a packed orange line buses will prefer the bus, especially since much of the route is reserved bus lane.
But I don’t know that area too well, are the reserved bus lanes effective? are the parts mixed with normal traffic bad enough to not make it worth it?
The other big improvement is two more Azur trains on the orange line, though I’m not clear on what headway that translates to.
Here is the actual itinerary of the new 445 bus btw:
http://www.stm.info/sites/default/files/planibus_sept2019/fr/445.pdf?hootPostID=64e8d9b76d940e5d142123c0d358f644
Kate 20:59 on 2019-08-22 Permalink
Emily, the 445 will run at rush hours only, but it’s a start. Radio-Canada reports weekdays 6:30 to 9:30 southbound, 15:30 to 18:30 northbound.