2023-12-11 22:33:04
At a time when it must reduce its expenses to avoid reducing service, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is calling on employers to pay a portion of the cost of the OPUS card, rather than offering parking to their employees.
Posted at 5:33 p.m.
“Sometimes we see large employers paying for parking or cars. Ask yourself: are you making the right choice for our society, or should we not change our behavior and do things differently to encourage public transportation? », Argued Monday the general director of the transport company, Marie-Claude Léonard, before the Canadian Club of Montreal (CCM).
This organization, which regularly receives leaders from the Quebec and Canadian business world, invited Ms. Léonard to speak on the main challenges facing the STM over the coming years.
According to Ms. Léonard, the concrete benefits that employers have from encouraging their employees to opt for public transportation are numerous and can even help to advance a company.
“When your employees have access to the metro, they arrive less stressed, with less anxiety. They are in better physical shape. This gives access to employment service centers. […] It’s also easier to recruit employees when they can travel by public transit,” explained Ms. Léonard.
According to her, paying a portion of the cost of the OPUS card is a good first step to take, especially for large employers. “It’s a social choice and everyone has a part to do […] to make this difference together,” concluded Ms. Léonard, adding in passing that the STM’s revenues would be all the better if more companies financed access to public transportation.
Difficult context
The exit of the DG comes at a time when, more than ever, the STM finds itself in a delicate financial context. At the beginning of December, the transport company confirmed that it would ultimately have to reduce its expenses by almost 86 million in 2024, an increase of more than 70% compared to what was previously expected.
In the short term, the level of service will nevertheless remain intact in the metro and buses, but the organization’s shortfall will increase from 36 to 46 million. Some 255 positions will also have to be eliminated internally in the coming months to maintain a balanced budget.
That said, all the industry’s hopes now turn to Quebec, which must still negotiate a five-year financing agreement with the transport companies.
At the beginning of November, the Legault government ruled following weeks of tense negotiations: the final aid for 2024 will currently be 265 million, including 238 million for Greater Montreal, a figure which absorbs 70% of the deficit. , according to Quebec’s calculation.
An example to follow
At the STM, we also argue that each company, regardless of its size or field of activity, “can play a role in influencing the offer” in public transport. The example of the Pharmascience group is convincing on this subject, according to the organization.
In February, The Press had reported that the pharmaceutical group had registered with the Quebec Registry of Lobbyists to ask the transport company to improve its service and thus allow its workers to go to work by public transport.
The company then deplored the fact that line 115, used by several employees, was only in service in the morning and late followingnoon, with no service between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., which posed mobility problems, especially for atypical hours.
Since then, discussions have taken place and the frequency of line 115 was finally increased. Thus, since August 28, line 115 “has seen an addition of 18 departures per weekday”, an increase of 35% compared to the previous service offering, confirms spokesperson Kevin Bilodeau by email.
More generally, the affair pushed the STM to discuss with other companies in the sector to “match the service offering and working hours”. Service additions were notably made in the evening to accommodate certain work shifts.
“This case is an example of industrial sectors which have preserved a significant level of travel despite the pandemic and less teleworking, and where we have therefore added service in recent months,” concluded Mr. Bilodeau by email.
1702344011
#Public #transportation #Pay #OPUS #card #parking #STM #asks #employers
