Dozens of users of commuter trains, buses and the STM Metro packed a room in the Palais des congrès Friday afternoon to ask questions on improving service both on and off the island.
The Authorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), the agency that oversees mass transit systems in 82 municipalities, held its first public consultation meeting since its creation in June 2017.
People asked questions from increasing service where demand is high to harmonizing transit fares among multiple transit systems.
“I might like to use the train, it’s another system. If I want to use the subway in Longueuil it’s another system again. So it’s a huge complication for the ordinary people,” Pierre Sénécal, a public transit user, told Global News.
Paul Côté, the director general of the ARTM, welcomed the questions and admitted there is a lot of issues to deal with.
”There’s a big pile, but we’re going to have to sort through it, prioritize it and determine what comes first,” he said.
The ARTM’s board members will work on a new strategic plan for mass transit beginning this fall.