Smog Alert - Take the bus in Laval for only $1!

LAVAL, QC, July 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Environment Canada issued a smog warning for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the local area. In keeping with its commitment, the Société de transport de Laval (STL) has therefore reduced the fare on its buses Monday July 5, Tuesday July 6, Wednesday July 7 and Thursday 8 to just $1, and will also maintain this fare on Friday July 9. The operation is going very well. The fare reduction (down to only $1 per person) prompted over 3,118 more transit users to opt for public transit, up 5.10% over the average number of trips for 4 days during this time of the year.

Launched in 2008, the Smog Alert initiative aims at promoting the use of public transit when the air quality deteriorates so much that it is below acceptable standards.

It has been estimated that the special $1 fare might prompt some 1500 motorists to leave their cars at home on smog days.

No other Québec carrier has adopted an incentive fare policy, under these circumstances, to improve the quality of the air.

This measure (which comes to an end on Labour Day, September 6) may well be repeated during the summer.

The STL, facts and figures

    
    - The STL operates over 20 million runs annually.
    - The overhaul of the bus network, made necessary by the extension of the
      metro to Laval, gave rise to a 28% increase in service, faster trips
      and more direct bus routes.
    - The frequency of buses outside rush hours, on evenings and weekends,
      has doubled on 12 lines since August 2009.
    - The fare policy is particularly designed to encourage families to use
      public transit: All adults paying their fare on weekends and holidays
      may be accompanied, free of charge, by up to five children age 11 and
      under. This policy also applies to every day in the summer, July 1 -
      Labour Day. In addition, the STL's $1 fares on summer smog days are a
      first in Québec.
    - It is also partnering with the Association québécoise de lutte contre
      la pollution atmosphérique, Communauto and The Carpooling Network to
      promote sustainable transportation in Laval.
    - All vehicles on its fleet use biodiesel B5.
    - The STL has its own pages on Facebook and Twitter, where it announces
      service notices and smog alerts.
    - The STL offers riders the opportunity to register on MySTL to receive
      notices on its bus routes that they usually take.
    - Since the roll-out, in 2009, of its vehicle scheduling control system,
      the STL's on-time performance has been on the rise, to over 92%.
    - In February 2010, STL President Jean-Jacques Beldié received the Guy-
      Chartrand award, in the Public Transit Development and Improvement
      category.
    

For further information: Marie-Céline Bourgault, Director, Communications & Marketing, Société de transport de Laval, 450 662-5429, [email protected]