STL to cancel 60 bus trips per day due to supply chain issues

Laval transit buses are seen at a terminal in Laval, Que., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Public transit users in Laval can expect a rough commute for the next few weeks.

The city’s transit agency announced that it will be forced to cancel more than 60 trips per day starting on Tuesday due to internal supply chain issues and mechanical issues on its bus fleet caused by the “harsh” winter climate.

As a result, the Société de transport de Laval (STL) said it won’t have enough buses to offer its full service schedule for the next four to eight weeks and it cannot guarantee accessible vehicles on accessible routes.

However, weekend service will not be affected, nor will routes that are classified as the busiest, ones that serve schools or ones that link to the first and last metro departures.

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Beginning Tuesday, 39 trips will have to be cancelled during the morning rush hour and 23 trips will have to be cancelled during the afternoon rush hour, representing a decrease of 2.6 per cent in service affecting nearly 2,000 passengers.

“This is the only decision possible under the circumstances, as we must act responsibly to prioritize the safety of our customers and employees. We are committed to communicating developments in the situation to customers in a proactive and transparent manner,” said STL executive director Josée Roy in a news release on Monday.

The routes that are being cancelled were chosen based on a weighting system in order to minimize the impact, the STL said.

During the disruption, the transit agency is urging customers to check their bus routes each day by visiting its website, subscribing to alerts, texting their bus stop number, using a trip planner, and calling customer service at 450-688-6520.

“Rest assured that our teams are working hard to restore the situation as quickly as possible,” Roy added.

“Needless to say, when we have a more precise schedule, we will communicate it immediately. Our priority is to minimize the impact on our customers as much as possible.”