STO receives funding for carpooling program and free student bus passes

Sophie Demers 

On January 31, during Mayor France Bélisles’ introduction of the 2022 budget, she announced that the Municipal council has allocated an additional $1 million to the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) to develop partnerships and programs. Specifically, a program that focuses on reducing single-occupant cars and promotes carpooling and carsharing. The program will include financial incentives and digital apps for carpooling. 

Another project the council hopes the STO can consider is the possibility of creating a system of free scooters, electric bikes and secure bike racks at park-and-rides throughout the city. 

The Mayor announced that the city would also like school service centres and the STO to work together to get free bus passes for high school students for travel on evenings and weekends. This would allow younger students, who have been largely absent due to the pandemic, to get accustomed to public transit

“The primary goal of the evening and weekend pass for students is to encourage them to use public transit for their travels, to make it easier for them to attend extracurricular classes in the evening, and travel to work,” says Jocelyn Blondin, Councillor for the Manoir-des-Trembles-Val-Tétreau district and President of the STO. “We hope that this will give them a taste for public transit when they are adults and help them recognize how it participates in the environment.” Councillor Blondin notes that the project is scheduled to be implemented in September.