Negotiations are under way to provide additional parking spaces for commuters using the train station in Vaudreuil-Dorion while repairs to the Île aux Tourtes Bridge force the span to be reduced to one lane in each direction.

The train station on De La Gare Blvd. in Vaudreuil-Dorion’s shopping district has seen an increase in the number of commuters opting to take the train to access the island of Montreal, in order to avoid the highway congestion. But that has caused another problem – not enough available parking spots at the train station.

Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon said officials with Exo, the organization that operates public transport services in the region, are in discussions with owners of the various commercial shopping plazas along the commercial strip near the station to create areas in the commercial parking for use by commuters during the day.

Pilon said there are roughly 650 parking spots available at the train station, another 100 spots the city provides for commuters at the neighbouring sports complex, and about 125 spots on surrounding streets. He says he expects another 100 to 400 spots to be made available by the Harden Group and SmartCentres, operators of the commercial strip malls. Shuttle services will also be made provided to transport commuters from these parking lots to the train stations during rush-hour periods.