URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE PROGRAM:

The Outaouais and Montréal transit corporations announce
their joint efforts to reduce greenhouse gases

Montreal, February 15, 2007 - As part of the Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTSP) announcement, the Société de transport de l’Outaouais and the Société de transport de Montréal transit corporations (STO and STM) are proud to work together on a joint public transit project, for the purpose of implementing an integrated set of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The STO project

The STO component of the project includes the implementation of various preferential measures and of intelligent transportation systems aimed at making public transit more attractive and user-friendly, by running both regular buses and hybrid diesel-electric buses in a given corridor. Moreover, the STO will be the first public transit corporation in Québec to operate hybrid diesel-electric buses made by Québec-based manufacturer NovaBus.

“Gatineau is a public transit role model in Québec. Once again, we are leading the field with the first hybrid bus. Municipal council wishes to turn Gatineau into a green city and using this technology in our transit network is another step in the right direction,” declared Gatineau mayor, Marc Bureau.

The corridor chosen by the STO runs along Gr�ber-Fournier-Maisonneuve boulevards leading to the Portage bridge. Nine buses, including two hybrid ones, will be used exclusively for this project, operating mainly on the 67 and 77 bus routes. Buses dedicated to the project will bear a Green line signature.

“The STO takes special pride in offering an even cleaner city to the people of Gatineau, thanks to the introduction of the first hybrid electric bus in Québec. Several other innovative measures will combine with this new technology for the purpose of improving the performance of bus transit, while making it even more green and attractive. Carrying out this project should lead to an annual reduction of over 1600 tonnes of greenhouse gases,” explained Alain Pilon, member of the STO board of directors.

The STM project

For its part, the STM plans on operating eight regular hybrid diesel-electric buses and assess their environmental performance in Montréal’s severe weather conditions. These vehicles will be paired with same-generation, conventional diesel drive buses, serving as a control group, that will travel along the same routes as the hybrid diesel-electric ones. The buses will be put into service on regular bus routes in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce / C�te-des-Neiges district by the end of 2007.

The project will help determine the extent of fuel savings in light of prevailing weather conditions in Montréal. Indeed, the efficiency of this type of advanced propulsion system could be influenced by extreme temperatures, among others. Studies carried out in areas where winters are less severe show savings of over 20%. For their part, GHG reductions will be proportional to reductions in fuel consumption.

“Sustainable development is a key concern for the STM. We are aware of the importance of taking action now regarding our fuel consumption habits, so that we may lower our greenhouse gas emissions and preserve the outside air. I am convinced that the sum of initiatives by the STM and its partners will have a significant impact on the quality of our environment and that they will produce a ripple effect among Montréal citizens as a whole,” emphasized Bernard Blanchet, member of the STM board of directors.

Carrying out this project will require investments of $19.7 million, of which $2.2 million is from the STO, $3.2 million from the STM, $6.4 million from the Québec government, $4 million from the federal government, in addition to $3.9 million from SOFIL, funded by the transfer of the federal excise tax on gas.

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