RTL CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE
Longueuil, November 30, 2020 – The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) is proud to announce that its paratransit service is entering its 40th year. Created in 1981 to meet a growing demand from people with functional limitations, the service has been expanding at an unprecedented rate ever since.
“The needs of people with reduced mobility have evolved considerably over the past 40 years. At first, people used paratransit mainly to get to day centres and medical appointments, but now they’re using it for all their travel needs, to get to work and their leisure activities, allowing them to remain full, active members of society,” said Jonathan Tabarah, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors.
Guided by its main mission of helping the population of the Agglomération de Longueuil to get around, the RTL currently provides paratransit service to almost 5,400 people with a significant and persistent functional limitation. This essential service is growing, largely due to the aging population. In 2019, for the second consecutive year, the paratransit service topped 400,000 annual trips by taxi, minivan, and minibus, and the reservation centre fielded more than 277,000 calls.
In the past year, the RTL’s minibus supplier has purchased 15 new vehicles, modernizing its fleet and ensuring better comfort for our users.
“When it first started in 1981, the paratransit service consisted of three adapted minibuses and three cars. We’ve come a long way in 40 years! We work hard every day to constantly improve the quality of our service for our users. We want to congratulate our teams and thank our users and partners for their ongoing trust in us,” added Mr. Tabarah.
The RTL will mark this anniversary with various communications over the coming year. You can learn more about this service by following our social media accounts and subscribing to our newsletter.
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.