Two years after the provincial government confirmed that the train de l'ouest project would go ahead, the Metropolitan transit agency (AMT) held public consultations on how it plans to improve transit in the West Island.
Nicolas Girard of the AMT said the organization has spent the last two years studying ways to improve services in the West Island, something that will be crucial with the impending demolition of the Turcot Interchange.
He said some service has already been improved, while other plans have been given a green light.
"We put more train departures, and other, more bus departures, and the other one is LRT (light rail transit ) from the Montreal airport," said Girard.
Former politician and public transit advocate Clifford Lincoln said it's about time.
"We in the West Island deserve to be on the exact same basis as someone taking the metro downtown, or in Laval for that matter. We pay 60 percent of our taxes to the city of Montreal. We share in the metro cost and the service isn't as good," said Lincoln.
Lincoln has spent over 20 years trying to get better service and there may be a light at the end of the tunnel.
"For the first time now we think circumstances are in our favour so we've got to push," he said.
However the head of the AMT cautioned that budget cuts may affect what the agency can do.
Girard also said the AMT is experimenting with ways to raise more revenue, such as making drivers pay to park in lots.
Provincial transportation minister Robert Poeti will meet with the AMT on Friday to discuss its plans.
