How West Islanders plan to deal with commute as Turcot work ramps up
Taking public transit, shifting schedules, moving downtown among steps taken
When long-time Baie-D'Urfé resident Bruce St. Louis heard that the commute from the West Island was only going to get worse with construction on the Turcot Interchange, he decided it was time to make a move — literally.
"It was getting to be an hour to an hour-and-a-half in and an hour to an hour-and-a-half back home. It was just becoming untenable," he says of his once 30-minute drive.
"You have to be available during the work day and not sitting in a car in traffic. So for me the easiest solution was to move downtown."
Work on the Turcot Interchange will make the commute into the city even more challenging for West Islanders for the next two years.
The ramp connecting Highway 20 East to the interchange is down to one lane. That means if you're heading downtown from the western part of the island, your commute is bound to take longer.
Officials advise commuters to plan a new route, take public transit, or be prepared to sit in traffic.
"At some point in time, I look forward to getting back to the West Island. But not until all this stuff is done," he said.
Due to the nature of his job as a consultant, St. Louis needs to have his car downtown to visit clients in different neighbourhoods, so taking the AMT commuter train was just not an option.
And he is not alone.
Taking public transit not always an option
Sarah Ford and her husband moved to Pointe-Claire from St-Henri three years ago with their two young daughters.
Ford still works downtown, and with her husband travelling for his job often, she says she has no choice but to drive to work in case there are any emergencies with her daughters at daycare or kindergarten.
"If something was to happen or if I was sick, all of the sudden I am extremely limited by that train schedule," Ford said.
"There's a period of time in the afternoon where there's no train running at all."
Ford has adjusted her work schedule to avoid rush hour as much as possible, working from 7 a.m. to 3:30 pm.
"I just can't afford more than an hour-long commute. I have to come up with a couple plan Bs."
Ford isn't ready to do something as drastic as move back into town — yet.
But she feels frustrated that her commute has become such a headache.
"Most people who do move [to the West Island] are doing so for a better quality of life," Ford said.
"The encouragement for families to move out to the suburbs is a reality. It's so unfortunate, because the infrastructure is just not in place."