STO announces $5 million investment to boost fall transit services

Tashi Farmilo

The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) has announced a $5 million investment aimed at enhancing its public transit services starting this fall. This funding will accelerate improvements originally planned for 2026, with changes now scheduled for rollout in 2025.

This decision follows the STO’s firm commitments to the Gatineau City Council and the local population, particularly in connection with funding sourced from the city’s financial contributions and vehicle registration fees. The agency has stated that it has intensified its efforts not only to meet, but to surpass, expectations.

The upgrades are part of a broader strategy focusing on high-frequency corridors, which account for 70% of all STO trips. The fall service enhancements will include adjustments aimed at improving transit access in both the eastern and western parts of Gatineau, with specific attention to student transportation needs.

“STO is delivering on its promises to the public,” said Jocelyn Blondin, President of the STO Board of Directors. “Ridership continues to grow, and we must ensure service availability during peak and off-peak hours. That’s why it was crucial to make significant investments in our most heavily used routes.”

These fall enhancements build on service additions already made during the winter and spring, bringing the total increase to 19,020 additional service hours annually—representing a 5% rise in overall service capacity.