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Public transit agency hears from users across greater Montreal

Click to play video: 'Public transit users voice concerns, questions at first-ever public consultation'
Public transit users voice concerns, questions at first-ever public consultation
WATCH: The organization that oversees transit in greater Montreal is trying to get more people to use trains and buses. As Global's Tim Sargeant reports, the organization held its first public consultation meeting to hear from transit users – and they got an earful – Jun 22, 2018

Dozens of users of commuter trains, buses and the STM Metro packed a room in the Palais des congrès Friday afternoon to ask questions on improving service both on and off the island.

The Authorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), the agency that oversees mass transit systems in 82 municipalities, held its first public consultation meeting since its creation in June 2017.

People asked questions from increasing service where demand is high to harmonizing transit fares among multiple transit systems.

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“I might like to use the train, it’s another system. If I want to use the subway in Longueuil it’s another system again. So it’s a huge complication for the ordinary people,” Pierre Sénécal, a public transit user, told Global News.

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Paul Côté, the director general of the ARTM, welcomed the questions and admitted there is a lot of issues to deal with.

”There’s a big pile, but we’re going to have to sort through it, prioritize it and determine what comes first,” he said.

The ARTM’s board members will work on a new strategic plan for mass transit beginning this fall.

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