Spurned on Metro expansion, Montreal mayor invites transport minister to ride Orange line

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante has a proposal for Quebec's transport minister: ride the Orange line during rush hour to find out why her administration's proposed Pink line is needed.

Planteextended that invitation toFranois Bonnardelafter hetold reporters earlier this week the Pink line was "not apriority, short, medium or long term, for our government."

"Let's not forget that the Pink line is one of the solutions to take the pressure off the Orange line," the mayor said Wednesday.

Plante said she was "surprised" and "disappointed" by Bonnardel's definitive statement regarding the Metro expansion. She said Berri-UQAMis already at full capacity, and an alternative within the Metro systemis badly needed.

On Monday, Bonnardelsaid the coming light-rail network, along with the expansion of the Metro's Blue line and thebus rapidtransitroute along Pie-IX Boulevard would help alleviatepressure on the Orange line.

When asked about Plante's offer on Wednesday, Bonnardel said he "would be happy to take the Metro with her."

Another line makes sense, STM says

In a recent interview on CBC Montreal's Daybreak,STM chair PhilippeSchnobb said a rise in Metro ridership points to an urgent need for more public transit options.

As it stands, 66,000 people use thatstation every day between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. the equivalent of more than three sold-out hockey games at the Bell Centre, he said last November.

Montreal set aside $1 million in its most recent budget to study Plante's proposed Pink line, which would connect Montreal North to Lachine without going through Berri.