The construction of the MUHC superhospital is almost complete, but multiple infrastructure projects surrounding the Glen Yards will not be ready by the time the hospital opens next spring.
The Vendome metro and train station, immediately adjacent to the hospital, is not wheelchair-accessible and will not be anytime soon.
Transport Quebec, the STM, and those supervising the hospital's construction told the public of the hazy timelines at a public meeting on Tuesday.
"At this point in time it is going to be the transitional measures and the long term solution will be in place later on but I cannot confirm a schedule," Sarah Bensadoun of Transport Quebec said.
Funding for construction of a second entrance to the metro has yet to be approved, even though the plan has been in the works since long before the groundbreaking of the superhospital project.
Shannon Franssen said that Vendome metro will not be accessible even when elevators are installed at a second entrance.
"The AMT and the STM, they don't even have plans to put in escalators, they're still talking about only stairs at the Vendome metro," said Franssen.
School board commissioner Marie-José Mastromonaco and others held a protest outside the meeting to demand better public transit.
She and other protesters said there are not enough buses serving the neighbourhood, and don't expect the traffic congestion that peaked during the hospital construction will be reduced in the near future.
"The buses just don't pass and the kids end up having to get to school late," said Mastromonaco.
The STM says ridership has increased since September and it will increase the number of buses on the 105 route along Sherbrooke St.
