Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Encyclopedia
Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) is the transit service of the Outaouais region of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

. It operates public transit routes in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...

, Quebec, including the Hull
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...

, Aylmer
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...

, Gatineau, Buckingham
Buckingham, Quebec
Buckingham was a city located in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec. Since January 1, 2002, it has been part of the amalgamated city of Gatineau which merged five former municipalities, including Masson-Angers, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer and Gatineau, into a single entity...

 and Masson-Angers
Masson-Angers, Quebec
Masson-Angers is a former municipality and now a sector within the City of Gatineau, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, in Quebec, Canada, approximately northeast of downtown Ottawa.-History:...

 sectors, plus limited service to suburban communities such as Chelsea
Chelsea, Quebec
Chelsea is a municipality located immediately north of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada and about 7 miles north of Ottawa. Chelsea is located within Canada's National Capital Region. In 2006 the population was 6,703....

 and Cantley
Cantley, Quebec
Cantley, Quebec, Canada, is a rural municipality north of the city of Gatineau, east of the Gatineau River, located within Canada's National Capital Region approximately 15–20 minutes from Parliament Hill. The population in 2006 was 7,926. Between 2001 and 2006, Cantley had the largest population...

.

STO is located in Canada's National Capital Region
National Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....

, and operates numerous bus routes through Downtown
Downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa is the central area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Like other downtowns it is the commercial and economic centre of the city. It is sometimes referred to as the Central Business District and contains Ottawa's financial district. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, the...

 Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. It is the last transit company that still operates fishbowl buses in Quebec.

History

  • Before 1971, Public Transit in Gatineau was operated by the private sector. The company had 42 buses to serve 11 million clients in 1956, number reduced to 2.5 million clients in 1971.

  • In 1969, the law on the Regional Outaouais Community (Communauté régionale de l'Outaouais) is adopted. In 1971, the Commission de la communauté régionale de l'Outaouais (CTCRO) was created. In 1972, the CTCRO acquired their administrative headquarters, adopted their logo and official colours and for an amount of $2.25 million buys all three public transit companies operating in the region (Transport urbain de Hull, Transport Hull métropolitain, Transport d'écoliers du nord de l'Outaouais).

  • In 1973, the CTCRO creates an agreement with OC Transpo
    OC Transpo
    OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...

    , to make the transfers between the two services easier.

  • In 1991, CRCRO becomes la Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO)

  • In 1996, the STO celebrated its 25th anniversary. On a day, passengers were charged only 25 cents for one trip.

  • In 1998, the STO was named the Canadian public transit operator of the year by the Canadian Urban Transit Association
    Canadian Urban Transit Association
    Canadian Urban Transit Association is a trade association for the urban transit industry in Canada.-History:It was originally established in 1904 as the "Canadian Street Railway Association"...

     (CUTA). It was at the same year that the company introduced a smart-card fare system, making it the first company not only in the Americas but the entire Western Hemisphere
    Western Hemisphere
    The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...

     to have a smart-card system. Paper card bus passes were gradually retired until its official end in 2004 when smart cards became the exclusive bus pass.

  • In 2002, the STO introduced its first fleet of low-floor bus
    Low-floor bus
    A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...

    es from NovaBus. From this year forward, the company purchased low-floor only buses.

  • In 2003, the STO have announced plans to built a bus-only roadway similar to OC Transpo
    OC Transpo
    OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...

    's transitway
    Ottawa Rapid Transit
    In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the public transit service operated by OC Transpo has two rapid transit systems: the Transitway, a bus rapid transit network, and the O-Train, a diesel-powered light rail transit service operated on one line.-Major routes:...

     in Ottawa
    Ottawa
    Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

    , called the Rapibus
    Rapibus
    The Rapibus is a planned and approved bus-only roadway for the Société de Transport de l'Outaouais in the city of Gatineau, Quebec. The project aims to speed up the service for commuters in growing sub-divisions in the northern and eastern areas of the city by alleviating the congestion on key...

    . Currently under environmental assessments, the project is expected to be completed by 2011.

  • In 2005, the STO announced a strategic plan for the period 2005–2015 in which they are projecting a ridership of 21 million by 2015 up from 16.3 million in 2006. Ridership from 1995 to 2006 had grown about 50% . In addition to the Rapibus, the STO is planning on increasing the number of park and ride
    Park and ride
    Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...

     facilities across the city as well as the introduction of bike racks, the expansion or addition of garages, fleet expansion and a pilot project with routes increasing accessibility to people with reduced mobility.

Operations

Information current to July 2010:
  • Fleet: 288 buses
  • Employees: 673, including 408 bus drivers.
  • Routes: 62 (47 regular, 13 express and 2 interzones)
  • Shelters: 277
  • Ridership: over 19.3 million in 2009
  • Kilometres travelled each year: 13.4 million in 2009
  • Paratransit Service
  • Rapibus
    Rapibus
    The Rapibus is a planned and approved bus-only roadway for the Société de Transport de l'Outaouais in the city of Gatineau, Quebec. The project aims to speed up the service for commuters in growing sub-divisions in the northern and eastern areas of the city by alleviating the congestion on key...

     (proposed)
  • Park-n-Ride: 17

Regular routes


Rush-hour regular routes


Express Routes


Interzone routes


School Routes

The following routes are for students from Gatineau educational institutions only and numbers are not shown on the destination sign, on the bus flag, the Info-Plus information board or the User's Guide. It is mentioned only on the STO's website under the Students (Pour étudiants seulement) section. They are also not included in the InfoBus telephone information dispatcher system. They have three-digit numbers, and the last two indicate that it is using a route similar to its parent route (ex: 633 follows mostly Route 33). Generally, the name of the school is shown only on the destination sign, but sometimes it can also do the parent route's short trip. These routes runs only on school days from Late-August/Early-September to mid or late-June.

Parent Routes by sectors or towns

  • Route 1 serves Chelsea
    Chelsea, Quebec
    Chelsea is a municipality located immediately north of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada and about 7 miles north of Ottawa. Chelsea is located within Canada's National Capital Region. In 2006 the population was 6,703....

  • Routes 5 and 6 serves Cantley
    Cantley, Quebec
    Cantley, Quebec, Canada, is a rural municipality north of the city of Gatineau, east of the Gatineau River, located within Canada's National Capital Region approximately 15–20 minutes from Parliament Hill. The population in 2006 was 7,926. Between 2001 and 2006, Cantley had the largest population...

  • Routes 10–39 serves the Hull
    Hull, Quebec
    Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...

     sector (11 and 17 are express routes)
  • Routes 40–59 serves the Aylmer
    Aylmer, Quebec
    Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...

     sector
  • Routes 60–89 serves the former city of Gatineau although Route 90 was added because numbers in the 80s were exhausted. (80–90 are express routes)
  • Routes 94-96-98 serves the Buckingham
    Buckingham, Quebec
    Buckingham was a city located in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec. Since January 1, 2002, it has been part of the amalgamated city of Gatineau which merged five former municipalities, including Masson-Angers, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer and Gatineau, into a single entity...

     & Masson-Angers
    Masson-Angers, Quebec
    Masson-Angers is a former municipality and now a sector within the City of Gatineau, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, in Quebec, Canada, approximately northeast of downtown Ottawa.-History:...

     sectors (94 & 98 are interzone routes)

  • It should be noted that some of these routes travel through more than one area. All Hull routes, Aylmer routes (except 49 through 58), 67, 77, all Gatineau express routes and interzone routes cross the Ottawa River
    Ottawa River
    The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...

     to Ottawa
    Ottawa
    Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

    . Routes 28 and 58 do not serve the downtown core.

  • Main terminals on the STO network includes Les Promenades de l'Outaouais
    Les Promenades de l'Outaouais
    Les Promenades de l'Outaouais is a major shopping centre located in Canada's National Capital Region. It is located in the city of Gatineau near the intersection of Greber and Maloney Boulevards, one of the city's busiest intersections and just off Autoroute 50.It is considered to be the second...

     (Gatineau), Jene-Rene Monette Park And Ride (Gatineau), Freeman Park and Ride (Hull), CEGEP Gabrielle-Roy (Hull), Front/Cormier (Aylmer), Rivermead Park And Ride (Aylmer) and Rideau street.

  • Other major transfer points includes the Hull hospital on Boulevard Lionel-Emond, the shopping district on Boulevard Saint-Joseph
    Boulevard Saint-Joseph
    Boulevard Saint-Joseph is an important commercial boulevard in the former city of Hull, Quebec . It runs from Boulevard Alexandre-Tache to the boundaries of the city of Gatineau and the suburban town of Chelsea.-Southern section:...

     (at Montclair and Gamelin in Hull) and the downtown area (Terrasses de la Chaudière
    Terrasses de la Chaudière
    Terrasses de la Chaudière is a complex of government office buildings in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The complex was built in 1978 as part of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's initiative to see more federal workers based in the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. It was built by developer Robert Campeau...

     and Place du Portage
    Place du Portage
    right|thumb|250px|The Place du Portage complex facing the Ottawa River.Place du Portage is a large office complex in the Hull sector of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, situated along Boulevard Maisonneuve and facing the Ottawa River...

    ).

  • STO adopted several changes from 2005 to 2007 to the service in every sector after public consultations. The most recent changes were adopted for the Aylmer and are in effect since June 25, 2007.

Fleet

  • This is the current fleet of the STO Source

Active fleet



Note : All Classics are generally used in rush hour service only.

Retired fleet

  • This is the retired fleet of the STO Source


Fleet notes

  • In the 2002 User's Guide, the STO was expected to convert half of its total bus fleet into low-floor buses by 2012. The low-floor buses are the NovaBus LFS models from 2002 to 2008. However, the more recent models contains a seating capacity for only 37 passengers, while most other models have a capacity of well over 40 seats. During rush hour, there is a higher chance to see overcrowded situations inside this type of bus.

  • Another flaw in these buses is that even though they are considered low-floor buses and seem to have wheelchair access (a wheelchair sticker, although very small, is located near the exit door in the center of the bus), there have been some technical issues that prevent wheelchair access to the bus. However, it does ease access for those on crutches, those who have mobility problems, seniors and pregnant women. This means that no STO regular buses are wheelchair accessible. They must rely on paratransit
    Paratransit
    Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....

     service. The only wheelchair-accessible buses in the fleet are the 2009 third-generation LFSs.

  • From 2001 to 2006, in order to satisfy growing demand, the STO purchased additional older buses from the Société de transport de Montréal
    Société de transport de Montréal
    The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...

    , Société de transport de Laval
    Société de transport de Laval
    Société de transport de Laval is the public transit system in the city of Laval, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in June 1971 as the Commission de transport de la Ville de Laval ...

    , Société de transport de Sherbrooke
    Société de transport de Sherbrooke
    Société de transport de Sherbrooke provides public transit services to Sherbrooke, the only major city in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. After the almagamation of what are now neighbouring boroughs into a regional municipality in 2002, service was expanded to cover the entire city with...

     and OC Transpo
    OC Transpo
    OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...

    . All buses have been retired. 8202 was sold to a private collector in May 2009.

  • In 2006–07, fishbowl buses had their rollsigns replaced with Balios LED signs taken from 1996 and 1997 Classics, 8310 was the last bus still with a rollsign, since it has been retired, all buses are now equipped with electronic destination signs.

  • On February 15, 2007 the STO presented new hybrid buses and two of them were tested during the winter of 2007. Previously, it also tested a prototype bus from Ontario during the summer of 2002


  • Seven buses were purchased from the STCUQ in 2007, they are currently in service, except 9130 which was retired.


  • With the arrival of the '3rd-Gen' Nova LFSs, STO will begin offering more accessible service between 9 am and 3 pm on routes 36, 37, and 300 starting September 30, 2009. This is because that these buses feature the more reliable flip-out ramps, as opposed to the telescopic ramps on older LFSs which are disabled due to unreliability.

  • STO is expected to have Nova LFS artics in service by the late 2011, or by early 2012 (making it the first articulated buses in STO's fleet).

Fares

Fares in this section were effective January 1, 2009.

STO's service consists of three types of bus routes:
  • Regular: conventional bus routes, operating at all regular service hours
  • Express: designated routes operating during rush hours
  • Interzone: Routes 94 and 98 only, which reach the Masson-Angers
    Masson-Angers, Quebec
    Masson-Angers is a former municipality and now a sector within the City of Gatineau, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, in Quebec, Canada, approximately northeast of downtown Ottawa.-History:...

     and Buckingham
    Buckingham, Quebec
    Buckingham was a city located in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec. Since January 1, 2002, it has been part of the amalgamated city of Gatineau which merged five former municipalities, including Masson-Angers, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer and Gatineau, into a single entity...

     sector


Cash fares
  • Regular: $3.25, or 1 ticket
  • Express: $3.75, or 1 ticket with $0.50
  • Interzone: $5.60, or 2 tickets


Ticket fares (per ticket)
  • Adult: $2.80
  • Students & Seniors : $2.05


Monthly passes (Adults)
  • Regular: $76.00
  • Express: $91.50
  • Interzone: $105.50


Day pass: $6.50
  • unlimited use on Regular routes
  • add $0.50 for Express routes, $2.80 for Interzone routes


Children and Students
  • Cash fares are not discounted – the cash fare costs apply as above
  • Regular monthly pass: $52.50
  • Express monthly pass: $65.00
  • Interzone monthly pass: $80.00


Seniors (at least age 65)
  • Cash fares are not discounted – the cash fare costs apply as above
  • Monthly pass (valid for Regular, Express or Interzone): $34.50


Transfers
  • Transfers usually last for a maximum of 2 hours, except on Routes 33 and 39 where it is a maximum of 3 hours (at least when you board at Les Promenades de l'Outaouais terminal).
  • There are no additional charge when boarding OC Transpo regular routes, although there are some premium charges on Express and Rural Express routes
  • A supplement of $.50 is required when transferring to Express routes
  • A supplement of $2.50 ($1.90 for students/seniors) is required when transferring to Interzone routes. Tickets are also accepted.


OC Transpo Transfers and Passes
  • *Accepted without a supplement on the regular STO system. A supplement is required on express buses ($0.50) and on routes subject to interzone fares (students and seniors: $1.90 / adult: $2.60).
  • *After 9:00 am throughout the area served – Before 9:00 am only when boarding in the downtown Hull and sector Ottawa, unless accompanied by an Ontario residency card.

  • The OC Transpo day pass is also accepted on STO buses but can not be used as a family pass.
  • As of February 1, OC Transpo titles will not be accepted for the duration of the bus strike.


Ontario Residency Card
  • This photo ID card is available at STO issuing centres for $8.00, taxes included. It entitles the holder to use the STO's services with an OC Transpo pass at any time. The supplements required for the express and interzone buses apply


Forfait CamPuce

An exclusive offer for UQO students, CamPuce is a promotion that offers four months for the price of three.
  • Starting in September 2006, a pilot project with the Université du Québec en Outaouais
    Université du Québec en Outaouais
    The Université du Québec en Outaouais is a branch of the Université du Québec located in Gatineau, Québec, Canada. As of September 2010, combined enrolment at UQO's Gatineau and Saint-Jérôme campuses was 6,017, of which 4,738 were undergraduates and 1,279 postgraduate students...

     was introduced in order to encourage students to use transit. Previously starting at $51 per semester (regular network), the cost jumped to $57 in January 2007 and $107 in September 2007 due to a lesser contribution by the city of Gatineau on the project. In 2008, the cost jump was even higher and is $213 per semester as of 2008. Costs for the express network is $259.50 per semester and $307.50 for the interzone network.


CamPuce fares on January 1, 2009 for UQO students : $128.00 (regular), $174.50 (express) & $216,50 (interzone).

CamPuce fares on January 1, 2009 for CEGEP de l'Outaouais students : $100.00, $156.25 & $228.25.

Miscellaneous

Other fares are available for groups, special cases, or persons with disabilities.

Smart card

Monthly passes are in the form of a wireless electronic "smart card" known as Passe-Partout PLUS. The card itself has an initial cost of $8.00 and may be purchased from designated sales outlets. Monthly passes are also valid for connecting to OC Transpo
OC Transpo
OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...

 routes in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

.

External links

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