ARRIVAL OF THE RTL’S FIRST ELECTRIC BUS
Longueuil, January 10, 2020 - The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) has received the first small-sized electric bus in the history of the Société de transport de Longueuil. It will also be the first 100% electric midibus on the road in Québec.
Smaller than the hybrid buses currently used by the RTL, midibuses are 30-foot electric buses. Five of these compact buses, which will be quieter and feature seating for 20 passengers, will be on the road in 2020.
“These electric midibuses are a practical, innovative and more sustainable way for the Société de transport de Longueuil to meet users’ transportation needs,” declared the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The Government of Canada is working closely with its partners to improve the lives of Canadians. The addition of electric buses to public transit networks is a central element of my mandate, and I’m pleased to see the RTL embracing this positive change.”
“With each passing year, Québec’s transit corporations are replacing more and more of their vehicles with electric models,” added François Bonnardel, Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region. “The future of public transit is electric, which is why your government is very proud to support these initiatives. This first 100% electric midibus is a great start to 2020, as it will allow residents to get around the city more efficiently and with less of an impact on the environment.”
“I’m very pleased to announce the arrival of the first fully electric midibus in Longueuil,” declared Chantal Rouleau, Minister for Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region. “These buses, which are better suited to urban travel, will improve public transit services for users and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This news is firmly in keeping with Québec’s intended shift to the electrification of transportation.”
“This pilot project involving electric buses is a major step in the development of an electrification plan for our entire network,” stated Jonathan Tabarah, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors. “We need to offer users new transit solutions with an emphasis on the environment. There’s no question that public transit is a solution to traffic problems and an important factor in sustainable development.”
The midibuses will be tested before being put into service. The RTL will also do a needs analysis within the Agglomération to determine where the five electric buses will be commissioned.
This project is made possible through an investment by the federal and provincial governments as part of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.
From left to right: Sylvain Gonthier, Senior Director, Operations, RTL; Michel Veilleux, Executive Director, RTL; Jean-François Boivin, Longueuil municipal coun cillor and member of the RTL Board of Directors; Nancy Decelles, member of the RTL Board of Directors and paratransit user representative; Jonathan Tabarah, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors; Jacques E. Poitras, Longueuil municipal councillor and member of the RTL Board of Directors; and Marilou Alarie, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville municipal councillor and member of the RTL Board of Directors.
About the RTL
The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) is the main transit provider for individuals within the five cities that comprise the Agglomération de Longueuil.
The third-largest public transit organization in Québec, the RTL operates a network of 793 kilometres. With some 1,100 employees, the RTL is a major employer that contributes to the economic vitality of the region.
Ever receptive to its users, the RTL plays a key role in the lives of the people and the communities it serves by providing solutions that are efficient, innovative, and adapted to the evolving needs
of its clientele. Improving quality of life for the citizens of the Agglomération de Longueuil is a top priority for the RTL.