Quote:
Originally Posted by Cre47
The Pont Noir definitely should be looked at for a twinning. Travelling between the Hull and Gatineau sectors between 6 and 9 and the other way from 3 to 6 is an absolute disaster. At most times getting from most areas from the Gatineau sector to the downtown Hull sectors it takes 30-35 minutes whilist during the counter peak period it takes about an hour if not more. STO seriously needs to think about the counter-peak service next year and not just the peak direction (100 and 200 and restoring express routes). Right now it has the worst service level since at least the mid-1990s
Just for comparison there are 4-5 buses an hour connecting the Hull sector to the Gatineau sector in the morning peak (before the Rapibus there were 12 trips per hour connecting the two sectors in the counter peak direction). 2 on route 57 but meanders in local streets before its eastern terminus, 1 on route 810 and 1 or 2 on route 33 which does a huge detour through several local areas and in the morning has a random schedule basically (random intervals such as 28 minutes, 57 minutes, 47 minutes, 25 minutes, etc). Route 300 which is the replacement of the 65-67-77 as well as the counter-peak replacement of the off-peak route 400 does a huge detour via Ottawa and does not have a stop in the Hull sector aside from Place d'Accueil (start/end point). One observation is why they don't use some of the 100's for returning trips from Labrosse to the downtown Hull sector instead of deadheading OOS while basically using almost the same route. This would be greatly helpful and not too much costly. Also it wouldn't be too complicated to have counter-peak trips on route 68 (using the 5 and 50 in the counter-peak direction) to ease the crowding on route 33 as well as returning the terminus of route 64 at Freeman also.
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How I think they can fix the Pont Noir?
* During peak periods, it should be unidirectional in the peak direction. That way, there would be no need for buses to stop to have other buses pass in the opposite direction.
* Deadheading buses would be required to use the 5/50 or the Alonzo-Wright Bridge. With more 210s (300s) and a new 110, there would be fewer deadheading buses anyway.
Also to improve Hull to Gatineau service in the counter-peak, without considering the express routes (which need to be brought back, but that would be a different though altogether):
* Introduce a new counter-peak Route 110. Same as the 100, except diverting to the 5/50 like the 810 does now. The ideal frequency would be every 15 minutes IMO. Costs would be minimal as the buses would otherwise be deadheading.
* Route 300 should be renumbered to 210 (to make it show that it is derived from 200), with a 15 minute frequency.
* Movements between Ottawa and the Hull stations would be done with Route 20, as it is now.
* Introduce Route 69, via the Alonzo-Wright Bridge and straight down La Verendrye, as a counter-peak derivative of Route 68 (68 would continue with peak-direction and midday service) - once again, it is likely such would be replacing deadheading buses so costs would be minimal