Is the proposed light rail project right for the West Island?

The proposed light rail project forMontreal would seem, at first glance, to satisfy the demands of West Islanders who have long clamouredfor improved public transit service.

But experts and West Island mayorssay the success of the project will be determined by the details, such as the location of the stations, parking, total commute time and the cost of a ticket.

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"On the whole, it's encouraging,"MarioPolse, an urban planner with the Urbanisation CultureSocitResearch Centre, told CBC Montreal'sRadio Noon.

"The fact that it's theCaissededptleads me to believe it's going to happen."

The proposed project makes use of the Deux-Montagnes line, withtwo stopsin the borough ofPierrefonds:

• Sunnybrooke.
• Roxboro-Pierrefonds.

Under the proposal, two new dedicated tracks would be built on theWest Island, branching off from the Deux-Montagnesline where Highways 13 and 40 intersect.

On oneline, running parallel to Highway 40, there would be four new stations:

• Des Sources.
• Pointe-Claire.
• Kirkland.
• Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.

A second linewould givecommutersaccess to Montreal'sTrudeauairportand theTechnoparcinSaint-Laurent.

The existing VaudreuilHudson line, which runs parallel to Highway 20 through the West Island on Canadian Pacific tracks, would not be integrated into the new light rail line.

Location, location, location

EdJaniszewski, themayor ofDollard-des-Ormeaux, said he's concernedpeople who don't livenear a station wouldhavetotake a bus to reach one,especially ifparking near the train is in short supply. The extra bus ride, he said, could make for a lengthy commute.

"I think everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen with theconnections," he said.

He also wants tosee the final price tag, onceinfrastructure such as parkingis taken into account.

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• MAP| Click here for a detailed view of the planned light rail network

PaolaHawa, themayor of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, said the project has been "a long time coming."

"We have not had equitable service for West Islanders since forever, so let's focus on the positive," she said.

The problemon the West Island, Hawa said, "is that people have a lot of trouble getting here and leaving here."

She said the light rail line would attract more people to the West Island communities and "make it more pleasant to work on the West Island."

For her part,Baie-D'Urf MayorMaria Tutinosaid the new linewould help people who commute to her town to work get theremore easily.

"We're quite excited," she said.

"We've been getting bombarded with calls from both the residential and industrial sector saying this is wonderful."

Comfort and reliabilitywill be key

Polsecautionedthat the price of a ticket, which has yet too be announced, can't be much higher than the cost ofanSTM or ATM ride,or commuters willstay away.

"One of the big questions is how they are goingto modulate it. Will it be thesame price for every trip?" he asked.

Morebroadly,Polsesaid the success of theprojectis "going to depend on the comfort and reliability of the system."

"If this system is really nice and comfortable and reliable, word is going to get around," he said.