LAVAL, QC, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Société de transport de
Laval (STL) is determined to take the necessary measures to be allowed
to sign the UITP's Charter on Sustainable Development as a full charter
signatory.
This is the formal commitment made earlier this month by Guy Picard, the
STL's General Manager, at a meeting of the Sustainable Development
Commission of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).
At this meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 9, Mr. Picard
therefore endorsed the UITP's Charter on Sustainable Development as a
pledge signatory.
In the coming months, the STL will have to demonstrate that it is
implementing the UITP's sustainable development principles hinging on
three main focuses:
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social (interaction with the community, users and employees)
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financial (the financial viability of the organization), and
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environmental
Once such proof has been accepted, the STL will be able to officially
ratify the Charter. "We hope to be able to do so at the UITP's next
World Congress in Geneva, to be held next May," stated Guy Picard.
Based in Brussels, Belgium, the UITP has 3100 members from 90 countries
and is an international organization for stakeholders in the public
transit industry, including public transit authorities and operators,
policy decision-makers and scientific institutes. So far, less than 5%
of its members have ratified the Charter as pledge signatories or full
charter signatories.
The STL, facts and figures
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The STL operates over 20 million runs annually.
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The STL has rolled out its STLSynchro system, which informs transit users, in real time, about bus schedules
and progress along the routes.
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The overhaul of its bus network, made necessary by the extension of the
metro to Laval, has given rise to a 32% increase in service, faster
trips, more direct bus routes and a greater frequency of buses outside
rush hours, on evenings and weekends along 12 routes.
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The STL has also joined forces with the Association québécoise de lutte
contre la pollution atmosphérique, Communauto and the Carpooling
Network, to promote sustainable transportation in Laval.
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The fare policy is particularly designed to encourage families to use
public transit: All adults paying their fare on weekends and holidays
may be accompanied, free of charge, by up to five children age 11 and
under. This policy also applies to every day in the summer, July 1 -
Labour Day. In addition, the STL's $1 fares on summer smog days are a
first in Québec.
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All vehicles on its fleet use biodiesel B5.
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The STL is registered on Twitter and has its own Facebook page, where it
announces service notices.
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The STL offers riders the opportunity to register on MySTL in order to
receive notices on the bus routes that they usually take.
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Since the roll-out, in 2009, of its vehicle scheduling control system,
the STL's on-time performance rates continue to improve and, to date,
it has succeeded in achieving rates of over 92%.
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The STL has received a number of awards of distinction, including one
from the AQTR in 2010: the Grand Prix for excellence in mass transit,
positioning it as an outstanding corporation.
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In 2011, the STL was honoured with the AQTR's general public
communication award for its Smog Alert program.
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In 2011, the STL undertook a feasibility study to examine the viability
of implementing an aerial tramway (gondola service) on its territory.
This study is an additional project over and above the measures in the
Sustainable Mobility Plan. The steps being taken in this regard are
supported by Ville de Laval, the Agence métropolitaine de transport and
Hydro-Québec.
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A new program—STL Sustainable Mobility Solution—was launched in May
2012. This program is designed for organizations concerned with finding
ways of more efficiently managing their employees' commuting.
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In May 2012, the STL was honoured with the 2012 Corporate Leadership
Award in the Innovation category, for its CLIC carpooling project with
electric vehicles.
SOURCE: SOCIETE DE TRANSPORT DE LAVAL