The STO Adopts Its 2013 Budget and Fare Schedule

In its Board of Directors meeting today, the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) approved a budget of $106.3 million for 2013, along with the fare schedule to become effective on January 1, 2013.

The STO had to take the major factor of rising fuel prices into account this year in preparing its budget. It will cost the STO an additional $1.1 million to cover the impact of fuel costs in 2013.

See the complete fare structure valid as of Januray 1, 2013.

“Not only are rising fuel prices putting pressure on motorists’ budgets, they are also hurting the STO, which must provide biodiesel for its 306 buses every day. The STO cannot avoid this reality,” explained STO Chairman Patrice Martin. In total, close to $10 million will be required to fill up the buses next year. Over the past few years, the STO has nevertheless been taking steps to stabilize the fuel budget through agreements that enable it to benefit from set prices, thereby protecting itself from daily fluctuations in fuel prices.

Furthermore, the STO is currently experiencing a slowdown in its ridership growth compared with the past few years. For the first nine months of the year, the STO recorded an average increase of 1% compared to growth of 4% for the same period last year. The same trend has also been observed by OC Transpo in Ottawa. “We will be cautious again for next year with a growth forecast of 1.5%,” stated Mr. Martin. “The challenge ahead of us will be to maintain our ridership in the context of a regional economic slowdown with cutbacks announced in the federal public service, among others. The anticipated lay-offs and early retirements will also definitely have an impact on our regular ridership, which consists mostly of workers.”

To support the STO in dealing with these factors, the City of Gatineau has agreed to maintain its total budget contribution of 46% by injecting $49.1 million. The support of riders will also allow the STO to meet rising expenditures. “Proposing an average fare increase of 5.9% allows us to meet the higher expenditures, in particular related to fuel, and to maintain our current services. The STO would like to point out that the fare increase is not a result of the upcoming start of Rapibus service. In reality, without the increase in fuel costs, the fare increase in 2013 would have been only 2%.

The new 2013 fare schedule includes an increase in the cost of regular adult, student and senior smart card passes. The cash fare will also go up while current Interzone and Express fares will remain unchanged, and the reduced fare paper ticket will be discontinued and replaced by the e-wallet. This option is growing in popularity among riders, and allows seniors, students and children over 6 to benefit from lower fares when they pay using the e wallet. However, to make public transit use easier for seniors, the STO is adding a reduced cash fare of $2.45 to its schedule for them. Children aged 6 to 11 will also be able to benefit from this reduced fare.

Every year, the STO enhances is service offer, and will invest $1.4 million in 2013. Over the last five years, the STO has invested $7.2 million to continue to improve its services for the population.

The STO will upgrade its services by making improvements to the system, either through periodic changes in response to observations during the year or by adding trips that are already planned for certain routes. 18,000 hours in new services will be added and the buses will travel an additional 400,000 kilometres.

The paratransit budget will also increase by $600,000. In 2013, $6.8 million will be allocated for people who require paratransit service.

The STO will continue to update its bus fleet by acquiring 21 articulated buses in 2013. Preliminary studies and development of the new transportation centre concept will also start in 2013. The study on implementing a rapid transit system in the western part of the city will continue in 2013.

In addition, the STO is preparing to submit an official request to the Quebec government for $32 million in funding to extend the Rapibus to Lorrain.

The 2013 budget will be submitted to the City of Gatineau for adoption shortly.

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