Stephen Riccio
PONTIAC June 17, 2020
A Pontiac public transportation project that has been in the works since 2016 is set to . . .
get rolling in 2021.
The service plan, which was introduced during the June 17 MRC Pontiac council meeting, outlines that it will bring enhanced connection within the Pontiac and to the Ottawa-Gatineau areas, improved integration with those areas’ routes and a more affordable fare structure.
The proposal is a substantial extension to the existing Transcollines intercity route that runs back and forth once daily from L’Isle-aux-Allumettes to Ottawa along Hwy. 148.
MRC Director General Bernard Roy said the plan should take between two to four years to be finished, and that it will start in June 2021 with services expanding more in 2022.
Speaking after the meeting, Roy mentioned that there is still a question of budget while also saying that the MRC is moving forward with more capacity and bussing. The project will have financial support from Quebec’s ministry of transport.
Warden Jane Toller is optimistic that the plan will accommodate the various needs of those residents in the Pontiac that require access to the larger hubs on either side of the Pontiac.
“What I was excited to see is that there is a possible link to Pembroke, there is a link to Alymer, Gatineau, and Ottawa,” Toller said after the meeting.
When asked about whether she thought there would be enough demand in certain areas for route coverage, Toller acknowledged that the plan is not fully set in stone.
“They have further research to do to make sure they have enough people on those particular routes, but there will be routes being established to go down into some parts of the Pontiac,” she said. “I think it’s something that is going to build with promotion, but yes I think it’s going to become more and more popular.
Toller said that those who would certainly benefit are the students who might have to get an apartment in Gatineau for CEGEP. The increased transit frequency could make commuting to the city a more attractive option. Roy mentioned that there are many health care workers who could benefit from it, as well as the improved access to the Shawville Hospital for Pontiac residents.
Toller also pointed out that the newly introduced buses will include benefits such as bicycle racks on the front, and it being a safer and more productive commute for those who wake up early for work.
The promise of better affordability could be of massive benefit, as the current basic fare pricing for a day pass to Ottawa ranges from $24 from Quyon all the way to $55 from L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.
