The exo2 Saint-Jérôme line, which passes through de la Concorde, Vimont and Sainte-Rose stations, will notably work according to the weekend schedule. This will result in a significant reduction in departures offered.

Exo invites people to plan their trips via the Chrono app, which provides updates on disruptions and schedule changes for its entire network. It also allows them to see the complete schedule that will be offered during Thanksgiving.

Let’s recall that exo operates public bus and paratransit services on the north and south shores, as well as the train network in Montreal’s metropolitan area. Its network includes five train lines, 229 bus lines and 87 taxibus lines. (N.P.)

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Exo Modifies Its Schedule For Thanksgiving est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Elections are always an opportunity for the various organizations to send their grievances to the parties presenting themselves. The ATCL is no exception to the rule. The OBNL (non-profit organisation) has sent a press release in which appears an exhaustive list of its demands for the next mandate.

“We want the candidates of the six ridings to learn about the projects we’re defending, and commit to supporting sustainable mobility if elected,” said Nicolas Lemire, president of the ATCL.

Among the requests, the ambitious development of a structuring transport network deployed throughout the municipality. The ATCL board of directors even argues that the city is ready for a more developed public transport network that would serve its entire territory. Also according to the association, the budget allocated for public transport should equal the budget allocated to the maintenance of Laval’s road network.

A metro line, light metro or tramway crossing the island from East to West, and connecting to downtown, is also part of the requests sent to the six candidates of the different parties. Such an initiative regarding the public transport network would consolidate the development of the city, and change transport habits of Laval residents, according to what the OBNL’s board of directors suggests.

The ATCL also expects a favorable response to its proposal to extend the orange line to downtown Laval, as well as for the expressways it would like to see erected on the entire road network of its territory.

“The provincial government is an essential player through its support for various public transport projects,” Lemire concluded. “From an ecological transition perspective, candidates must show it’s a priority for them, as it is for us.”

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article It’s ATCL’s Turn to Lengthen its Requests est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

In the middle of the afternoon, the 48-year-old woman went to meet Laval families for nearly an hour.

Candidates of her party took advantage of Anglade’s presence to discuss with the members of their riding too.

There were many discussions, but most of them were about two major topics affecting families, daycare and needs in the school environment.

Many other candidates from different parties were also at the Centre de la nature. However, they didn’t receive the same privileges as the Liberal Party.

Nicolas Lussier-Clément, candidate in Laval-des-Rapides for the Conservative Party of Quebec, misunderstands the ban on solicitation during Family Day, while the Liberal team arrived with “the biggest political sign that exists”.

“When I arrived, police officers didn’t want to give me access to the site with my sweater, displaying the logo of my party,” Lussier-Clément said. “Finally, they accepted, and as I walked around, I saw the Liberal Party bus. However, the fact it was planned that Anglade would be there, and we were prohibited from being there with our political items, that’s what disappoints me.”

Lussier-Clément also notes that candidates from Québec solidaire were denied entry to the site with their signs.

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L’article Dominique Anglade is Visiting Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

BCF’s governing body will recommend the adoption of the agreement in principle to its members.

That same agreement is spread over a period of six years. For now, the details of the agreement will remain confidential in order to allow BCF members to conclude agreements with their respective school service centre.

“It proposes significant investments, and promotes greater stability in the school transportation sector,” said Minister of Education Jean-François Roberge by press release. “It guarantees the safety of students, and meets many expectations school carriers had.”

Several school transport contracts had expired since June 30.

“The BCF is delighted that the measures put in place by the government are making it possible to ensure a safe return to school for the students we’re transporting daily,” said President and CEO of the BCF, Luc Lafrance. (N.P.)

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L’article Agreement in Principle for School Transport est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

These past years, the STL has been trying to increase its number of electric buses in circulation. It won’t be easy to ensure public transport’s electric shift in Laval, but the committee working on the file has been preparing for it for a long time now.

Alexandra Gallo, project manager and engineer, says that in 2018, the STL started a pilot project with 10 hybrid buses, thus making it possible to better see the needs and changes necessary in the future for the desired full electrification.

“[Those vehicules] are currently circulating on our roads in Laval,” Gallo said. “They’re doing so since May 2021, and have been randomly dispersed across the territory in order to allow the majority of users to enjoy them. We’re talking here about a way much quieter and ecological experience for users. When we received those buses, we did a lot of tests, in part because of the new technologies they’re bringing.”

In total, the project is worth nearly 246 million, including studies, plans and other preparatory work. Of that amount, the Government of Canada will pay more than 85 million, while 18 million are from Laval. The Government of Quebec is giving more than $142 million for the project.

Space Needed

In total, 145 new parking places will be built for these electric buses.

A 20 megawatt electrical entrance will also be added in order to power the buses. That energy need will increase the area of STL’s site by 50 per cent, since 25,000 m² will be added next to the current garage. The space the new garage will occupy will replace a parking lot.

Executive Director of the STL, Guy Picard indicates that the shell of the new electrical entrance will be built in 2024.

“We will thus have our facilities, and will be able to park our vehicles,” Picard said. “However, it’s only from 2025 that we’ll be able to manage the electrical load.”

Mayor of Laval, Stéphane Boyer, says he’s happy to see such a historic project moving forward in a convincing way.

“It will give wings to Laval,” Boyer said. “Our hopes of developing public transport and electrifying our trips are depending on the ability to have electric buses. The start of the construction of the electric garage is planned for the next few months, and that’s kind of the starting point we needed to get fully into the project. I’m happy and I think it will help provide better service to citizens.”

For his part, Sainte-Rose’s deputy Christopher Skeete recalled that even if it’s a long-term project, Prime Minister François Legault had committed to making this shift.

“We distinguish ourselves in Laval,” Skeete said at the press conference. “We’re even more aggressive. Laval is growing quickly, and the STL is very well positioned to initiate such pilot projects.”

With the completion of this project, bus maintenance costs would also be reduced by 15 to 20 per cent, according to the STL website.

L’article Historic Project for the STL est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

It leads to the removal of 332 old transport tickets, allowing to simplify users’ choice.

Now, Laval customers have the choice to pick “Bus” or “All modes” titles. Those titles allow you to use all modes of public transport available, including bus, metro, REM and paratransit.

Users then have to decide if they’re picking the option AB (Laval, Montreal and Longueil), the option ABC (Laval, Montreal, Longueil and the north and south shores), or the option ABCD (Laval, Montreal, Longueil, the north and south shores and what’s outside ARTM’s territory) of the desired title.

This adjustment means the end of passages and monthly passes for the Société de transport de Laval (STL), which will now be included in “All modes AB” and “Bus” titles for a similar price, while allowing to continue travelling to Montreal.

“The new titles give access to more services and flexibility,” explained Michel Lemay, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Marketing and Customer Experience at the ARTM during a technical briefing on April 28. “The philosophy behind that is to encourage people to avoid taking their car. The user will be in a better position to make a complete trip by public transport, with a title that costs less.”

New Prices

The ARTM took advantage of the situation to announce a two per cent basic price indexation, excluding the unit price that will stay at $3.50 in the post-pandemic context.

The “All modes AB” title costs $150. It replaces the TRAM 3 monthly pass, for $147.

The “Bus” pass costs $105, compared to the $101 for the monthly STL.

Users can use it for travels between Laval and the rest of the north shore, which wasn’t possible before.

Let’s remember that all those titles offer variations of one, two and 10 passages. The 10 passages “All modes AB” title had already been launched in December 2021, since it was considered useful for users doing teleworking and not looking to buy a monthly pass.

Third Phase

That second step completes the unveiling of the new titles that were supposed to be part of the current tariff overhaul. Nevertheless, the transformation process isn’t complete, since the harmonization and the gradual withdrawal of old titles will continue until July 2025.

The ARTM also plans to modernize the OPUS card system. According to Lemay, it will be necessary to make it progress during the upcoming years. However, that shouldn’t be happening in the next 12 to 18 months.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Tariff Overhaul: New Beneficial Titles for Users est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.