Photo: Anja Karadeglija
	Khoba Sysavane and Maria Battaglino in front of a 105 bus. They’ve started a petition calling for improved service.

Two staff members at Concordia’s Loyola campus have started a petition to improve service on the 105 bus line.

Khoba Sysavane and Maria Battaglino are tired of being late for work, even though they get to Vendôme station with plenty of time to bus to Loyola.

The main problem, they say, is that there are not enough 105 busses to meet demand, especially at rush hour.

Problems with the route are ongoing, with periods where service has improved and then worsened, says Battaglino.

Sysavane adds that the situation has become much worse since last year. In January, the lines of people waiting for the bus at the metro station grew so long that they began wrapping around the building.

“And then the bus would come and it would take maybe half of the crowd. With people constantly exiting the station, the line never ended up being shortened,” explains Sysavane.

“In one week, I had to take a cab three times,” adds Battaglino.
To draw attention to the problem the women started a petition. The online version received about 30 signatures in the first two weeks.

“We have another team member who is sending stuff out to the school community. A lot people are feeling the same way, that the service isn’t adequate,” remarked Sysavane.

They’ve met with borough councillors Susan Clarke and Peter McQueen, but they haven’t had a response from the STM.

When contacted, spokesperson Marianne Rouette said that the STM had not yet received the petition, and would not be commenting yet.

Sysavane says that if it’s not dealt with now the problem is only going to get worse, especially when the MUHC is built.

“The hospital is going to be a real issue. You’re going to have even more traffic redirected towards the area.”

Sysavane wants to see service improved during the morning and afternoon rush hour, with a dedicated bus for students and staff in the morning. Over the long term, she thinks that another option like a tramway might be the only solution.

[ Anja Karadeglija ]