New transit service connects west Quebec to Gatineau, Ottawa

The first passengers of a new transit service intended to connect Outaouais municipalities with Ottawa and Gatineaupurchased their tickets and boardedshiny blue-and-white busesMonday morning.

Transcollineswill connect people infour Outaouais municipalities Cantley, Chelsea, La Pche, andVal-des-Monts with Socitdetransportdel'Outaouais(STO)bus routes in Gatineau.

Passengers will be able to transfer to STO routes on a single bus ticket, and Transcollines riders will have the same access that STO riders have toOC Transpo routes.

Chelsea Mayor Caryl Green toldOttawa Morning's Hallie Cotnamthat Transcollineswill include more buses and better connections than what the STO previously offered in the area, including noon-hour service.

"It's been many years in the works. It's linking the rural to the urban," said Green.

A regular monthly bus pass will cost $92 for adults, $62 for students, and $40 for seniors. Individual bus fares cost either four or five dollars, depending on how far passengers travel.

The service will be free until June 30.