Smog Alert in Laval - A Tremendous Success - Société de transport de Laval
donates $5,000 to Équiterre

LAVAL, QC, Oct. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - In keeping with its promises, the Société de transport de Laval (STL) donated $5,000 to the Équiterre organization yesterday-an amount corresponding to the fares paid by the first 5,000 users who took advantage of the discount granted during the Smog Alert in mid-August of this year.

Created in 2008 and re-introduced last summer, the Smog Alert is an initiative that aims at stimulating the use of mass transit when the air quality deteriorates so much that it goes below Environment Canada's acceptable standards.

At such times, bus fares drop to $1-62% less than the usual fare of $2.60 .

The Smog Alert is unique to the STL. No other transportation company in Québec promotes an incentive fare policy under such circumstances, in order to improve the air quality.

On August 14, 2009 , Environment Canada issued a smog warning for the weekend. The special fare was therefore offered on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 15-17.

The following results were recorded at that time:

    
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                                 Saturday,           Sunday,        Monday,
                                  Aug. 15           Aug. 16         Aug. 17
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    No. of riders recorded         25,427            20,412          39,326
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    Increase in %                    4.56              5.62            5.82
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Last May, the STL announced that it would donate to Équiterre the revenue from the first 5,000 transit users paying cash during a Smog Alert.

STL Chairman Jean-Jacques Beldié presented the cheque to François Boulanger, Équiterre's Coordinator, Energy, Transportation and Buildings.

"Équiterre is one of our invaluable allies in promoting alternate solutions to car use," stated Mr. Beldié. "The STL is proud to be contributing toward funding this organization, to help it pursue and maximize its environmental actions."

Established in 1993, the day after the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro , Équiterre adopted the mission of contributing toward building a societal movement by urging residents, organizations and governments to make ecological, equitable choices showing solidarity.

The STL: facts and figures

    
    - The STL operates nearly 20 million runs annually.
    - The overhaul of the bus network, made necessary by the launch of the
      metro, 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 and will double on other lines between now and
      2011.
    - 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. In addition, its $1 fares on summer smog days are a first in
      Québec.
    - The STL is carrying out a feasibility study for a trolleybus network
      powered by electrical energy.
    - It is financing Éco Mobile à Laval, a major operation of Vélo Québec
      and aimed at promoting alternate solutions to car use.
    - 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, a fuel that comes from
      recycled oil that isn't made of corn.
    - By March 2010, real-time announcements will be displayed on buses, at
      stops and via text messaging.
    

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Marie-Céline Bourgault, Director, Communications and Marketing, Société de transport de Laval, [phone], [email protected]