The STM in Rivière-des-Prairies
Direct connections to the métro
New routes
Improved service frequency
Si! Si! Si!

Montreal, 26 August 2004 – Beginning August 30, the STM will provide improved transit service in the Rivière-des-Prairies sector and in the Island’s East end. Redesigned service in terms of transit users needs, two new bus routes were created, six existing bus routes were modified, while service on four frequently used rapid routes has been maintained.

Following the Montréal Summit, the STM held public consultations in fall 2002, giving Rivière-des-Prairies residents an opportunity to express their transit needs and expectations. Based on that information, the STM reviewed its service offer in the area and has created faster, more direct and efficient bus connections, better suited to the requirements of commuters. Over the next few months, the STM will evaluate the performance of these new routes to ensure they actually meet with the population’s needs.

Cosmo Maciocia, Mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles – Montréal-Est Borough, expressed his satisfaction regarding the work carried out by the STM, adding that these changes would no doubt encourage more area residents to opt for public transit.

Two new bus routes
Employees of businesses located along Henri-Bourassa will now enjoy new rush hour service with the 40 – Henri-Bourassa-Est. As for the 87 – Marien, it will make commuting easier between Rivière-des-Prairies and the industrial sectors of Pointe-aux-Trembles and Montréal-East. The new bus route replaces the former 255 – Gouin/Notre-Dame minibus service, and its shorter route and improved frequency will save time for transit users.

Improved routes
Running in both directions along Rodolphe-Forget, the 48 – Perras and 49 – Maurice-Duplessis (previously 49 – L�ger) routes will certainly accommodate residents living close to Perras and Maurice-Duplessis Boulevards by taking them directly to Henri-Bourassa métro station.

The 33 – Langelier, 43 – Monselet, 183 – Gouin-Est and 194 – métrobus Rivière-des-Prairies routes were also modified to provide better alternatives for local travel in the sector. Moreover, the terminus for the 43 has been relocated to Marie-Victorin cegep.

Rapid services maintained
Four bus routes, the 44 – Armand-Bombardier, 77 – C�gep-Marie-Victorin, 148 – métrobus Maurice-Duplessis and 199 – métrobus Lacordaire, will maintain their popular rapid service to stations on the métro’s Green line.

Industrial sector
In addition to the 40 – Henri-Bourassa-Est and the 87 – Marien bus routes, another route was introduced on August 16 to improve service in the industrial sector. The result of a partnership agreement between the STM and the Société de d�veloppement �conomique Rivière-des-Prairies●Pointe-aux-Trembles, the 25 – Parc industriel Pointe-aux-Trembles route now provides public transit service to workers in the industrial park of Pointe-aux-Trembles .

Communications campaign
A multi-faceted communications campaign was launched to promote these improvements and encourage residents to use the new transit services. Direct mail advertising, distribution of promotional flyers in strategic locations and at bus stops, ads displayed inside métro stations, bus shelters and buses, advertising in local newspapers and articles appearing in the Info STM page of the métro newspaper were all used to reach residents.

Public transit in RDP
Public transit service in Rivière-des-Prairies includes 12 bus routes, five of which provide rapid service and a total of eight routes converge on métro stations on either the Green or Orange lines. About 12,500 commuters use these services on a daily basis and the upcoming improvements will translate into shorter commuting times for over 5,600 of them. They will also provide a more direct link to Henri-Bourassa métro station for about 2,000 people.

For more information, transit users should call STM-INFO (786-4636). They can also call A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287) for schedule information at their bus stop. More useful information can also be found on the STM’s website at www.stm.info.