Transit companies in the Outaouais region and Montreal unveil the results of joint efforts to reduce greenhouse gases
Transit companies in the Outaouais region and Montreal (Société de transport de l’Outaouais or STO and Société de transport de Montréal or STM) unveiled today the results of a project under Transport Canada’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTSP). This project was carried out with financial contributions from Transport Canada from the Quebec transportation department (Ministère des Transports du Québec or MTQ) and the participation of the cities of Gatineau and Montreal. The project, led jointly by STO and STM, assessed the ability of hybrid diesel-electric buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transportation in Gatineau and Montreal. The purpose of this project was to test out an integrated set of measures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and fuel consumption.
 © Mélanie Provencher |
 © Mélanie Provencher |
| From left to right in the photo: Patrice Martin, chairman of the STO; Marvin Rotrand, Vice-chairman of the Board of the STM; Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and M.P. for Pontiac; Norman MacMillan, Quebec Minister for Transport, Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member for Papineau and Marc Bureau, Mayor of the City of Gatineau. | Journalists, employees of the STO and environmental organisation representatives who assisted to the conference. |
 © Mélanie Provencher |
 © Mélanie Provencher |
| A few of the team members who worked on the projet. | From left to right in the photo: Michel Brissette, STO General Manager; Norman MacMillan, Quebec Minister for Transport, Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member for Papineau; Marc Bureau, Mayor of the City of Gatineau; Marvin Rotrand, Vice-chairman of the Board of the STM; Patrice Martin, chairman of the STO and Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and M.P. for Pontiac. |
Opening of the Ligne verte corridor – September 22, 2008
On September 22, 2008, as part of international "In Town, Without My Car!" day, the STO officially opened the Ligne verte corridor formed by the Gréber, Fournier and Maisonneuve boulevards. This corridor is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making public transit even more attractive through initiatives to improve the speed and regularity of services and thereby increase ridership. The project also consists of improved infrastructures with new bus shelters, information modules at stops, the De la Cité Park-and-Ride, and reserved lanes on Gréber and Fournier.
 © Sylvain Marier |
 © Sylvain Marier |
 © Sylvain Marier |
| Marc Bureau, Mayor of the City of Gatineau | Patrice Martin, STO Chairman | Benoit Pelletier, Quebec Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and MPP for Chapleau |
 © Sylvain Marier |
 © Sylvain Marier |
| Regional media at the opening of the corridor. | The ribbon cutting, a symbolic gesture representing the official opening of the Ligne verte. From left to right in the photo, Patrice Martin, Marc Bureau and Benoit Pelletier accompanied by Michel Brissette, the STO's General Manager. |
New reserved lanes on Gréber – August 2008
On August 21, 2008, the STO opened up the reserved lanes on Gréber between Savane and St-Louis, which are in effect on weekdays only between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. southbound and between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. northbound. They are intended for buses, taxis and car pools of three or more people. In addition, the section missing in the existing northbound reserved lane on Fournier has been complete and operational since October 2008.
New buses dedicated Ligne verte – June 27, 2007
On June 27, 2007, the STO unveiled its nine Ligne verte buses dedicated to the Gréber – Fournier – Maisonneuve corridor. These buses, which comprise seven diesel and two hybrid diesel-electric buses, are being used to compare the performance of these vehicles in terms of fuel consumption and emissions reduction. The buses are easy to identify. The two hybrid vehicles have their own particular decoration and the seven conventional buses have a special coloured logo. The nine Ligne verte buses travel along routes 65, 67 and 77 during the morning and afternoon peak hours and primarily during the day, but will also be assigned to other sections of the system during evenings and weekends.
 © Serge Paquin |
 © Serge Paquin |
| Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. | Marc Bureau, Mayor of Gatineau |
 © Serge Paquin |
 © Serge Paquin |
| Louise Poirier, STO chairwomen. |
 © Serge Paquin |
 © Serge Paquin |
| Lawrence Cannon surrounded by journalists. | |
