CÔTE-DES-NEIGES —NOTRE-DAME-DE-GRÂCE: ONE HOUR
Edwin Biroun, Media Strategist Distance: 7 km Driving route: Côte-St-Luc Rd./ The Boulevard, Côte-des-Neiges Rd., Docteur-Penfield Ave., Peel St. With no traffic, the drive would take about 15 minutes. How long is your usual morning commute?: When I left at 8 a.m., what used to take me 15 minutes was taking me an hour. In the past, this route was always a streamlined commute. But due to roadwork this summer, I was either cutting it too close to my starting hour for work or showing up late.
How about a year ago?: I was working in Île-Perrot a year ago, so a long commute wasn’t unreasonable. I’m glad I don’t have to go there anymore, because I can’t imagine what it would be like getting out there; Turcot work now makes it hard for me to reach Highway 20.
Biggest trouble spots?: Décarie Blvd./Côte-St-Luc Rd. is usually a mess, with cars lined up all the way from up the hill due to volume and how traffic lights are configured. Grosvenor Ave./The Boulevard is terrible because of roadwork. Peel St. is awful, and when you hit Sherbrooke St., you have to wait on the cops stationed there to direct traffic. How was your last driving commute?: I started getting up at 5 a.m. so I could be out by 7 a.m. to avoid the anxiety and stress brought on by being stuck in traffic. It’s amazingly clear at 7, and I just glide through the streets and right into the office. Total time: 12 minutes. Have you changed your commute?: I have taken on a new role at work and I no longer get free parking. So I now take public transit. In my previous role as a salesperson, I needed a car to be able to move around and meet clients on short notice.
How’s public transit?: I take the métro now, and it only takes me 15 to 20 minutes, including my walk from home and to the office. If I leave at 7 a.m., everything is extremely streamlined. If I wait till 8 a.m. to set up, the commute goes up to 30 minutes. Not bad at all, really. But then I have to deal with being mashed into a sardine can with the rest of the 8 o’clockers. That’s when the métro cars also tend to stay in the station for longer, with their doors staying open for a few minutes at a time after everyone has crammed on.