My Alerts Montréal, September 15, 2011 The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is launching a new OPUS & Cie program for companies. Conditions for registering in the program are now available on its website at http://www.stm.info/English/tarification/a-opusetcie.htm .
“Aimed at companies who want to promote public transit use among their employees, our new program involves buying into annual subscriptions to the STM’s regular monthly passes. Companies who join the program agree to make a financial contribution toward the purchase of monthly passes by their employees. In turn, the STM agrees to extend the same discount, up to a maximum of 10%. And to help interested companies, the STM has mandated three transportation management centres (CGD) serving the island of Montréal to assist them in promoting the OPUS & Cie program,” declared Michel Labrecque, chairman of the STM board of directors.
A 12-month subscription is value $873 | Employer discount | STM discount (Max 10%) | MTQ discount (until Oct. 14, 2011) | Total discount % | Total discount $ | |
Opus à l'année Subscription program for individuals | Flat rate discount | n/a | 0% | 8,33% | 8,33% | 72,75$ |
Opus & Cie | Variable discount: | |||||
Subscription program for companies | Example 1 - Minimum | 4,16 % | 4,16 % | 8,33 % | 16,55% | 145,35 $ |
Example 2 | 10 % | 10 % | 8,33 % | 28,33% | 247,32 $ | |
Example 3 | 25% | 10 % | 8,33 % | 43,33% | 378,27 $ | |
Example 4 - Maximum | 81,67 % | 10 % | 8,33 % | 100% | 873,00 $ |
The program’s framework calls for companies to agree to contribute a minimum of 4.16% of the cost of an employee’s monthly transit pass. In turn, the STM agrees to match the employer’s contribution, up to a maximum of 10%, thereby guaranteeing a minimum discount of 8.33%, the equivalent of one month of free transportation, for any employee who signs up for one year. The initiative also carries certain tax advantages for companies, in terms of deductions, while giving them an opportunity for taking positive action in favour of sustainable development.
Furthermore, the Ministère des Transports du Québec’s current promotion for one month of free transportation can be combined with the STM’s offer if registration is completed before the October 14, 2011 deadline. Transit fares are also guaranteed should the OPUS card be lost or stolen, while employees subscribing to OPUS & Cie can avoid line-ups and extra trip to reload their card with the program’s automatic debit system.
The STM reminds that since introducing OPUS cards in 2008, it has expanded its fare strategy, diversified its fare products and adapted them to the different needs of transit users. Such fare initiatives include:
- Family Outings allows an adult holding a valid STM fare to travel with up to five children un the age of 12 for free on weekends and legal holidays (for a maximum $10 discount per trip);
- Unlimited Evenings for $4 gives cardholders unlimited transit use between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next morning;
- CAM 4 mois, a four-month pass covering the school term for students eligible for reduced fares, allows them to load and prepay a transit pass valid for four consecutive months, at last year’s rate (a 5.5% discount in 2011);
- One-day (24 h) and three-day fare cards, for $8 and $16 respectively, provide unlimited travel during a given period of time and entitle cardholders to ride the 747 Express bus;
- Opus à l’année, an annual subscription program, allows regular fare customers to register for their OPUS card online in addition to avoiding line-ups and additional trips to reload their card;
- A group fare makes it possible for adults to purchase and handle fewer fare cards when travelling with a group of children, while facilitating boardings.
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