2023-12-04 10:55:00
While waiting for the Quebec government to decide on a structuring transportation project for Quebec City, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) says it does not have many options on hand to substantially optimize its busiest routes. : 800 and 801.
Data from fall 2023 shows that on routes 800 and 801, maximum passenger capacity is reached during morning rush hours. According to the RTC, adding departures on these routes would cause buses to risk congestion on their routes, as the time interval between each of them is short; what the organization calls a bus train.
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A bus train approaching Parliament Hill.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Olivia Laperrière-Roy
Across the entire network, including buses, Express and Métrobus, in September 2023 ridership returned to 88% of what it was in October 2019. The RTC expected a recovery of 84% in 2023 , so it exceeds expectations. The recovery is more pronounced on metrobuses than expresses, indicates a spokesperson.
Even if ridership has not quite returned to pre-pandemic levels, it is only a matter of time before we find ourselves in the same saturation situation as in 2019 and even potentially exceed it. Moreover, the RTC considers that before the pandemic, the situation was not ideal.
Already for next year, we think we could reach 90% of ridership, specifies Luc Samson, head of service planning at RTC
The network estimates an 11% increase in trips to the center of the city by 2041. The RTC will not have the capacity to absorb these new trips, underlines the organization.
Yes, in the meantime we will take actions, but there will be no substantial improvements without moving towards a more capable mode, says Luc Samson.
Few optimization options
In the metropolis, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has implemented measures to optimize the speed and efficiency of its bus routes. For example, it allows boarding through all doors of articulated vehicles at certain stops and users queue at stops.
These are things that have already been questioned (sic) at the RTC, it is sure that it is easier when these are areas where it is easier to supervise. When it’s on sidewalks, it’s a little more difficult, adds the head of service planning. These are marginal gains which improve the system, but which will not revolutionize it.
He also has a reservation about the efficiency gain if the bus is crowded anyway. If the bus is already quite full and once on board, people have to squeeze to get to the back of the bus, it remains difficult, he explains.
The 800 and 801 metrobuses have the advantage of traveling on reserved lanes on several sections of their route and like other buses, they have priority at red lights when they are late on their route. Here too, the limit of improvements has been reached according to Luc Samson.
It is certain that reserved lanes always make the system more efficient, but there are places where it is simply not possible because there are ultimately just two traffic lanes. I’m thinking of Limoilou for example, where we don’t have the choice to live together, he explains.
The effect of reserved lanes is also limited when several buses converge at the same place. Despite the reserved lanes, we still arrive at a saturation level, especially on Parliament Hill where there are also Express trains that come to coexist, continues the head of service planning.
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Reserved lanes are not always respected by motorists. The police sometimes carry out operations to catch offenders.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Carl Boivin
Could the RTC simply increase its capacity by purchasing larger or longer buses? According to Luc Samson, such acquisitions would come with other investments since it would be necessary to update the infrastructure along the routes.
Today, all the stopping areas have been designed for articulated buses like we have at the moment and I am not convinced that longer buses could turn into the terminals we have at the end of the line, says he.
The transport company is therefore counting on a structuring transport network to change the portrait of public transport in Quebec and improve its service.
In the meantime, the employees had started work well in anticipation of the arrival of the tramway and its construction. The plan we had was still quite advanced. We just want to finish our analyses, so we wouldn’t have to redo much if it ever comes back and can deploy it, says Luc Samson.
Like Quebec City, the RTC will now have to wait until June to find out what transportation project awaits it and for planning.
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