During his term as chairman of the board of directors Claude Trudel revitalizedthe Société de transport de Montréal

During his term as chairman of the board of directors
Claude Trudel revitalized
the Société de transport de Montréal

Montréal, January 26, 2009 – Members of the STM board of directors and senior management praised the work accomplished by the mayor of Verdun Borough, Claude Trudel, as chairman of the STM board of directors since January 2006.

Under his guidance, the STM adopted a new corporate direction marked by a dynamic, modern approach and by a strong commitment to the community. During the last three years, the STM has taken concrete action to forge closer ties with its clients and partners, expand its transit services and commit to sustainable development.

Thus, in 2007, the STM reviewed its strategic plan and updated its corporate mission to reflect its commitment to sustainable development issues. This was particularly evident in the way it became a factor in corporate business decisions and actions taken on a daily basis, such as fuelling vehicles with biodiesel, acquiring diesel-electric hybrid drive buses and implementing a green driving programme.

Moreover, thanks to investments by Transports Québec and Ville de Montréal, the STM introduced a major service improvements plan aimed at increasing ridership by 8% by 2011. And its efforts have produced results: in 2008, the STM registered an unprecedented 4% growth in ridership, or an additional 15 million rides, bringing the annual total to 382.5 million rides.

It should also be mentioned that, despite a very limited financial framework, agreements were reached with four of the six certification units, including two majors ones representing drivers (SCFP) and maintenance workers (CSN). Labour relations should therefore be stable until 2011.

Finally, during his term as chairman, some fifty partnerships were entered into with the city, stakeholders, cultural, sports and environmental organizations. Mr. Trudel also encouraged the promotion of art in the métro through an original project by artist Rose-Marie Goulet inside a métro car, the “blue car,” through the on-going conservation of existing works of art, through the publication of a Ulysses travel guide that leads readers to discover the city’s underground art gallery, and through a recently created board of directors’ committee on arts and heritage assets.

“On behalf of each member of the board of directors and STM senior management, I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Claude Trudel for his dedication and, more importantly, praise him for all the work he accomplished to highlight the need to adequately fund public transportation,” declared board vice-chairman, Marvin Rotrand. “He rose to the challenge, leaving behind a soundly-managed, financially-strong company that is moving forward.”