A customized fare - The STM launches a new fare product designed for students at Université de Montréal

Montréal, March 14, 2011   This morning Messrs Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), Guy Breton, Rector of Université de Montréal, and Marc-André Ross, Secretary-General of the Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM), jointly announced, in the presence of Mme Manon Barbe, City Executive Committee member responsible for transportation, the arrival of a new universal public transit program known as PUS.

Thanks to this new program targeted at all Montréal students who are members of FAÉCUM and registered full-time at Université de Montréal, these transit users will benefit from an exclusive unique fare giving them unlimited access to the STM bus and métro network.

Some 20 000 students eligible for PUS will thus profit from a discount on the monthly CAM ranging from 5% for students who already benefit from a reduced fare, to 50%, or $137 per term, for students 25 and over who are now paying the regular fare.

Students eligible for PUS will enjoy one of the best public transit fares in Canada as of September 1. The STM is able to offer this advantageous fare due to the program’s financial model that calls for automatic subscription for all eligible students and to the contribution from the university.

“By giving them access to public transit at a previously unheard of fare, we are not only providing eligible students with an opportunity for unlimited travel on the STM network, but we are also helping them develop a responsible habit that many will continue throughout their professional lives. In this respect, we salute the vision shown by Université de Montréal and FAÉCUM in investing in this initiative, which is as beneficial for the students as it is for the environment,” stated Mr. Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STM.

Mr. Labrecque also noted that, “the STM intends to add to the benefits already mentioned. It will undertake discussions soon with certain of its partners to obtain other benefits and discounts for students eligible for the PUS program.”

For the Rector of the Université de Montréal, Mr. Guy Breton, the project is confirmation of the priority given to sustainable development by the UofM. “The realization of this project demonstrates once again the commitment of our community and the concern we have in protecting our environment,” stated the Rector. “With the PUS card, our community is taking concrete, innovative action to improve our environment, as we committed to doing by supporting the Ville de Montréal’s action plan for sustainable development.“

“FAÉCUM has been working on the possibility of offering the PUS program at Université de Montréal since 2007, and today we salute the work accomplished by all partners in the project,” said Marc-André Ross, Sectretary-General of FAÉCUM. “Not only can we be proud of this project that will encourage ecologically responsible public transit habits, but we also see here an opportunity for students to reduce their travel costs.”

“I salute this initiative that responds admirably to the objectives of Montréal’s transportation plan. I am convinced that students will take advantage of their new PUS cards to change their travel behaviour and reduce their dependence on the car. I congratulate and thank all the partners to this agreement who demonstrated a collective will to provide Montrealers with a healthier environment,” declared Madame Manon Barbe, City Executive Committee member responsible for transportation.

PUS will run as a pilot project for the 2011/2012 fall and winter sessions. Students who are eligible for the program will no longer have to make a trip each month to reload their Opus cards; as they will receive a photo ID Opus card at the start of the school year, loaded with a fare valid for the eight months of the pilot project. The cost of the fare per session is included in their statement of school fees to be paid.

“There is no doubt that PUS will contribute to a major increase in the number of trips taken by public transit in Montréal. The STM estimates that close to 1 million additional trips will be generated as a result of this initiative. This gain will have a positive impact on the environment and is perfectly aligned with the objectives of the three parties involved in the agreement to reduce GHG emissions. This pilot project, a first in Montréal, could be a springboard to a similar model applicable to other educational institutions and will no doubt contribute to an increase in modal share for public transit. In the long term, this initiative will help position Montréal as a university city and a model for the use of public transit,” pointed out Mr. Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STM.

The STM foresees that a second phase of the program could be extended to students living off the island of Montréal through the participation of other transport organizing authorities (AOTs) in the region.

In closing, it should be noted that the STM already offers various beneficial fare options such as reduced fares for students 18-25, the 4-month CAM as well as other discounts from certain of its partners for Opus card holders.

More information

Following the tripartite agreement between STM/Université de Montréal/FAÉCUM, all Montréal students who are members of FAÉCUM and registered full-time at Université de Montréal are now eligible for the CAMPUS program. They will therefore receive a CAM for the four months of their fall session (September 1 to December 31, 2011) and the four months of their winter session (January 1 to April 30, 2012) at a cost of $154.

The cost per session will be billed to students by Université de Montréal.

Here are the discounts on the monthly CAM that eligible students will receive with this program:

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