I am addressing this plea to you because I once spoke to you about the poor service provided by the STCUM when you were a guest on CBC radio noon. You listened to my complaint about the 57 bus schedule and promised to look into the problem. Have you done anything about it?

Since then, the service has deteriorated to the point that passengers who travel on that route are now utterly angry and fed up. As usual the bus #57 did not show up today at 5.30 p.m. at the corner of de Maisonneuve and St Matthew (end of the bus line route). There were at least 10 people who waited patiently for the bus for an one hour. It finally showed up sometimes after 6 p.m. There were many elderly people among those waiting. Some later got off either in Little Burgundy or in the Point.

I am a resident of Point St Charles, I am semi retired, work 6 months of the year and live on a very small income. I totally rely on the 61 or 57 bus routes to travel back and forth from work. I also rely on those buses to go downtown especially when the weather is poor or when I have heavy parcels or groceries to carry. As you can guess, I don't own a car, have not kept my driving permit and very seldom take a taxi.

To date the number 57 bus route that goes from Condé Street via the Point to corner of de Maisonneuve West and St Matthew is most unreliable. Please believe me I am not exaggerating! There is supposed to be a bus every half hour. Well it is not happening so and it is getting worse every day. The bus will not show up as scheduled and one must wait for the next one that will appear half an hour later. This generally happens in the evening between 4.30 and 7.30 p.m. Often this winter in extreme cold days I have given up waiting and headed for the nearest metro, carrying large bags of groceries, then from Metro Charlevoix I had no choice but to continue my way home on foot.

Please, please can this be investigated? I often see "C.Os" in key places but never at the corner of de Maisonneuve West and St Matthew (end of the bus line). The residents of Point St Charles are getting extremely poor bus service, especially after winter storms when some of the streets are closed for several days or when roadworks are in progress. One evening last summer I arrived late at an important appointment because the bus that finally showed up had to make a grand detour via neighbouring Verdun to reach the Charlevoix Metro due to major roadworks in the Point. This was TOTALLY ludicrous! I think that there seems to be hardly any communication between the City road maintenance departments and the STCUM.... "N'est ce pas?"

Though the 61 bus route is not busy outside rush hours, it stops running after 9.30 p.m. which is mostly inconvenient for me as I am forced to totally rely on the 57 bus in late evenings. Often I find myself forced to walk in the dark from Charlevoix Metro to Ste Madeleine Street where I reside - a 12 to 14 minutes fast-pace walk through poorly lit streets because the bus never showed up. Is this right?

Since you seem to have some involvement in the administration of Montreal transport, I beg you to look into the problem and do something to improve the situation. We residents of Little Burgundy and the Point do not deserve this poor bus service. By the same letter I am asking the full cooperation of Jacqueline Montpetit, my borough mayoress and the STCUM.

I trust that you will assist us in this desperate and urgent situation.

Thank you kindly,

Yours truly,

Vivien G. Freedman (Ms.)
Point St. Charles resident

N.B. Pour ceux qui recevront copie de cette lettre je suis désolée de l'avoir rédigée en anglais. Ce n'est pas dans mon
habitude et je préfèrerais continuer la correspondance en français si nécessaire. Merci pour votre compréhension!

Send to: mrotrand@ville.montreal.qc.ca
CC: commentaires@stm.info; jacquelinemontpetit@ville.montreal.qc.ca