The STO Inaugurates the New Allumettières Terminus and Park-and-Ride

This morning, Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) Chairman Patrice Martin took great pride in officially inaugurating the new Allumettières terminus and incentive parking located at the corner of Eardley and Hautes-Rives in the Aylmer sector.

The event, which was attended by political representatives who included Charlotte L’Écuyer, Member for Pontiac and Vice-chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment; Joseph De Sylva, Deputy Mayor of the City of Gatineau; Stefan Psenak, City Councillor for the Aylmer district; Michel Brissette, General Manager of the STO; and several other guests and representatives of the Quebec Ministry of Transport, highlighted the beginning of service for these two infrastructures that recently opened to the public.

“The new Allumettières Park-and-Ride and terminus are concrete examples of public transit system developments throughout the City of Gatineau that encourage sustainable mobility for everyone,” stated STO Chairman Patrice Martin. “We felt it was appropriate to mark the opening today since this is also the start of Sustainable Transportation Week.”

The STO’s new terminus and park-and-ride was made possible thanks to the support of partners including the Quebec government, which invested more than $2 million in this $3 million project, through the public transit assistance program. The STO Chairman thanked the Quebec Ministry of Transport for its contribution to the development of public transit in the region and for its willingness to make the Outaouais a “green” region.

The benefits for riders at the park-and-ride include 119 parking spaces, a shelter for a dozen bicycles, a pedestrian crossing, surveillance cameras and four spaces for Communauto to encourage car sharing. The terminus is the departure point for routes 41, 44, 49, 51 and 52, thereby making seating available for riders at the start of the route. The new terminus has four bus shelters that are heated on demand by radiant heaters to provide greater comfort for riders in cold weather, and appropriate lighting. This modern terminus replaces the old STO terminus at the intersection of Front and Cormier. Quality landscaping with mature evergreens, other trees and various plants is also one of the many features of the park-and-ride and terminus.

“These new STO arrangements offer local citizens direct, easy access to public transit service,” explained Stefan Psenak, City Councillor for the Aylmer district and member of the STO’s Board of Directors. “Use of the bus at this strategic location in the city’s west end will help reduce vehicle traffic, particularly during the week, on busy streets heading to the downtown areas.” Mr. Psenak also pointed out the work carried out in concert with neighbourhood residents. “The STO listened to citizens as it moved forward with the project and the final result clearly reflects this effort. It is definitely an added value for this neighbourhood and for our sector and its constant residential growth.”

To promote combining modes of sustainable transportation and to encourage development of the bicycle network, the STO worked with the City of Gatineau to extend the bike path to the Park-and-Ride. The STO also re-aligned Hautes-Rives and Allumettières to provide better visibility at this busy location, and installed traffic lights to increase road safety at the intersection.

For more information on the Allumettières Park-and-Ride and terminus, visit the Web site at sto.ca. To get personalized travel itineraries leaving from the terminus, simply check Plani-Bus, which can also be accessed on the STO’s Web site.

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