A new reserved bus lane in NDG may help alleviate some congestion in the area, but not everyone is happy with it.
West end commuters, who have had to endure several major construction projects, will see a dedicated lane on Sherbrooke St. between Girouard and Elmhurst Aves. for buses and taxis as of Monday.
The new lanes will affect eastbound traffic in the morning and westbound traffic in the afternoons.
Motorists won't be allowed to drive or park in the eastbound lane from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. or going westbound from 3:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon.
The reserved lanes are expected to reduce congestion through NDG, an area already plagued by delays from major construction projects.
Some merchants, however, said the changes will drive business away because parking is already scarce.
“All it’s going to do is take away a couple of hundred parking spots for people looking for a quick stop to go to the restaurant to go to the grocery store,” said Norman Desjardins, who delivers food for a restaurant on Sherbrooke.
STM vice-chair Marvin Rotrand said the new lanes should bring new opportunities, and merchants need to see the long-term benefits.
“I think bus lanes historically lead to more business, not less business. Now it takes getting used to; people do have to change their habits,” said Rotrand, who also serves as a city councillor in the borough.
The reserved bus lane along Sherbrooke West is part of a larger STM initiative to double the amount of reserved lanes across the city by 2017. The aim is to make taking the bus more attractive, something many public transit commuters seem to support.
“For the existing riders, of which there are 18,000 a day on Sherbrooke St. West for bus routes 105, 138 and 420, it means a gain of time between 10 and 20 per cent,” said Rotrand.
