The "STO on Demand" service will be available for a second year in Buckingham and Masson-Angers

Sonia Roy

The "STO on Demand" service, an initiative of the Société des Transports de l'Outaouais (STO) to improve and enhance public transit services in the Buckingham and Masson-Angers area, has been renewed for a second year in a row. This transportation reservation and planning service, which complements the regular bus network and paratransit service, has proven its worth since its implementation in July 2021. This first on-demand transportation service, back just in time for the festival and party season, has proven popular with residents of the districts and municipalities farther from downtown Gatineau: "Despite the pandemic, close to 7,000 trips have been provided since the launch," explained Patrick Leclerc, the STO's General Manager. 

On June 15, the STO announced the continuity of the service in a press release that included comments from Edmond Leclerc, Municipal Councilor for the Buckingham district and member of the STO's Board of Directors, who said: "We are very pleased to see that this flexible service has been renewed! By improving the quality of local travel in our sectors, we are facilitating access to jobs and local services, supporting our merchants and encouraging local purchasing, in addition to contributing to the revitalization of our neighborhoods and promoting social integration. The on-demand STO service is provided by Taxi Loyal as a subcontractor and has a customer satisfaction rating of 4.95 out of 5, according to data shared by the company itself. To make a reservation, you can visit the following link https://stoalademande.sto.ca.

More news from the STO:

Freebies for Summer 2022:

• The STO will offer free access to its entire bus system on the St-Jean Day and Canada Day.
• Free access to transit for all high school students is currently in effect in Gatineau.
• The family fare includes free passage for a child under 11 years of age on a paid adult trip (in effect on weekdays). 

For accessible public transit:

• The Vélo-bus service is offered on 270 STO buses (bike rack installed on the front of the buses).
• The Gatineau Park Access Shuttle Service, an initiative of the National Capital Commission (NCC), will be offered from June 25 to August 28, 2022. The service will be offered as a bus route connecting downtown Ottawa (Wellington Street/Lyon Street stop) and the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre located in Chelsea at 33 Scott Road. The shuttle, which will operate between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, will make several stops at key sites in the park such as the Pink Lake Trail, Champlain Lookout, Mackenzie King Estate and Camp Fortune.

Photo caption: (from left to right) Jocelyn Blondin, Patrick Leclerc, Edmond Leclerc and Mario Aubé, at the June 15 announcement

Photo credit: courtesy of the Société des Transports de l'Outaouais