JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

How do residents get around? How many use public transit daily? How can the city encourage more people to leave their cars at home? These are the questions the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion should attempt to answer now, says councillor Jasmine Sharma, before several major changes planned for the region – which are expected to increase traffic congestion – are set in motion.

With the upcoming opening of the new hospital, which is expected to draw thousands to the region; the eventual opening of new Île aux Tourtes Bridge, which will reduce the hassle of thousands travelling by car; and the launch of the new REM commuter rail line on the island of Montreal next year, which is expected to syphon revenues from transit options like the Vaudreuil-Hudson train line operated by the regional transit authority; the city needs a sustainable mobility plan, Sharma argues.

That is why she is proposing Vaudreuil-Dorion survey the population’s commuting habits, she explained in an interview on Monday, prior to tabling the proposal at the council meeting yesterday evening.

“The idea is to just gather information so that we can see what’s missing to connect the dots and what we can do to facilitate people making different choices in terms of getting around,” Sharma said.

The council understands that the vast majority of Vaudreuil-Dorion residents take a car to get from Point A to Point B. However, the city’s 2023-2027 Environmental Policy Survey indicated that a vast majority of residents are also concerned about climate change and expressed a desire for the city to examine initiatives that would reduce negative environmental impacts.

Collecting data on residents’ travel habits would allow the city to get a better understanding of the realities and challenges for those commuting to work, particularly in terms of what obstacles prevent people from opting for public transit over taking a car.

Sharma explained that the time is right for such a project.

In a statement released last week, she pointed to the region’s major projects – like the opening of the hospital and the launch of the REM – that could negatively impact commuter travel and increase traffic congestion in the area.

An integrated sustainable mobility plan would see Vaudreuil-Dorion examine different initiatives that could reduce residents’ reliance on cars, she said.

The plan would begin with a reflection and gathering data over the next few months.

“Let’s take a little bit of time, gather some information, get a picture (and) a better understanding of how people are moving around in our town,” she said, adding that the city would look at various ways to engage with residents on this topic.