Paratransit – Laval

In the Laval region, located around the main city of Laval, paratransit service is offered by the Société de Transport de Laval (STL). The first step to become eligible for paratransit service is to fill out the application form.  In addition to the application form, all forms relating to the nature of disabilities can be found on the STL website . The second step consists of sending the form to the following address: 

Société de transport de Laval
Service de transport adapté
2250, Francis-Hughes avenue
Laval (Québec)  H7S 2C3

This door-to-door service operates on a reservation basis.   The reservation center is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find out about the status of one’s application, users can call the centre during office hours at (450) 662-8356.  This service is offered to  the City of Laval. Users are automatically registered for the service upon their first request for a metropolitan trip.  This first request, which establishes your registration to the service, must be placed at least five days before the first scheduled transportation.  Additional requests must be placed between 48 and 72 hours ahead of any other scheduled outing.    There are three categories of transportation:

1-Regular transportation (fixed times and destinations) can be scheduled for any day of the week.   Reservations for regular transportation must be made with an agent from the Reservation Centre by phoning the phone number (450) 973-3111 at least 3 days in advance .However, there may be delays when making reservations to destinations with high levels of traffic such as schools, day camps and centres for structured activities. It is recommended that these reservations be made at least 3 weeks in advance. It is also recommended to plan transportation outside of high-traffic hours.  

2- Occasional transportation is offered for non-regular transportation service on a specific day.  Reservations can be made on any day of the week by phoning one of the agents at the Reservation Centre, or via Internet (click here to access the STL website).  Users must have their STL customer numbers and passwords on hand when making reservations.   Occasional transportation requests placed for the following day must be made before 5 p.m. Occasional transportation cannot be scheduled earlier than 3 days in advance.    

3- Institutional transportation: meaning transportation between two facilities of the health network.  It is important to know that paratransit service is for people making individual trips. Group transportation is not authorized.    

.    

If a reservation must be changed or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, users must contact a Reservation Centre agent before 5 p.m. the day before the scheduled outing.   It is possible to request a change on the day of the scheduled transportation, but such a request will only be considered if it reaches the STL at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time of the outbound segment of the transportation.   In the following cases, the time or destination of a reserved transportation can be changed: a seat is available in a vehicle and the user’s modified itinerary matches the planned itinerary of this vehicle.  If this is not the case, users have the option of cancelling their reservation.   

In cases of cancellations, the STL must be notified as early as possible, even if there are only minutes left before the arrival of the vehicle or if the vehicle is late.  Should a user not be present at the pick-up point for the outbound trip, the return trip is automatically cancelled.  For the return trip to remain effective, it is compulsory to notify the Reservation Centre within the 30 minutes following the planned departure time of the outbound trip.  If a user should not be present for the return trip and communicates with the Reservation Centre to reschedule a different return trip, the request will be processed according to available seats at the time of the rescheduling call, and the change in reservation may be refused.  Users who do not arrived for their reservations on several occasions may be subject to restrictive measures with regard to future transportation. 

Users may travel with a companion if they have been pre-authorized to do so by the STL’s eligibility committee. If pre-authorized, at the time of reservation, users must mention that a companion will be travelling with them in order for the driver to be informed accordingly. If this information is omitted when the reservation call is placed, the driver will refuse access to the companion.  Each user may travel with only one companion who must get on and off the vehicle at the same locations as the user.  Unless exempted, companions must pay their own fares according to the STL fare structure.  Users may request the driver’s assistance in the following situations:  

ü  Help with the manuvers immediately connected to getting on and off the vehicle, such as crossing the distance between the vehicle and the access door to the pick-up or destination locations; 

ü  Getting on and off the vehicle;

ü  Stow away mobility aids in the trunk or cargo hold of the vehicle;

ü  Crossing the threshold at the door of the pick-up and drop off locations. 

Drivers are not authorized to take elevators or stairways to go and get you or to take you to the floor where you are going. 

Fares for paratransit service are the same as for regular STL (see fares). Transportations outside of the city of Laval territory are charged at twice the regular rate. 

Occasional users of public transportation have two modes of payment at their disposal:  cash (must have exact fare – drivers do not handle change) or the paper ticket exclusive to paratransit. These tickets are sold at metropolitan ticket offices (click here to access the list of ticket offices).

Regular users of public transportation, can choose between two different types of subscription: the monthly subscription with an OPUS card, or the virtual subscription (exclusively for paratransit customers).   

The monthly subscription with an OPUS card requires an OPUS card.  These cards are issued at any metropolitan ticket office.  Applicants must bring the universal form for reduced fares , completed by their educational institution, to a metropolitan ticket office where a photo will be taken and the OPUS card will be issued.  The card is automatically registered. In the case of loss, damage, or theft, a new card will be issued.

The monthly subscription with an OPUS card requires an OPUS card.  These cards are issued at any metropolitan ticket office.  Applicants must bring the universal form for reduced fares , completed by their educational institution, to a metropolitan ticket office where a photo will be taken and the OPUS card will be issued.  The card is automatically registered. In the case of loss, damage, or theft, a new card will be issued.

Users opting for the virtual subscription simply need to mail a cheque to the STL. Once the cheque is received, the user’s file is updated and shows that the transit fare has been paid.  Drivers are notified and will not request any tickets or passes at the time of pick-up.  Customers should be informed that they can benefit from a free month of transportation during the first year of virtual subscription.  A cheque for the equivalent amount of the 12^th month of the subscription will be returned to the user.  To adhere to virtual subscription, the following steps should be followed:

•  Write a cheque dated for the first day of the month in which the subscription takes effect, including the fare amount effective at that time; 
• Make the cheque payable to the Société de transport de Laval;
• Indicate the user’s name, customer number and complete address on the front of the cheque;
• Mail the cheque to the following address:

Société de transport de Laval

Service de transport adapté

2250, avenue Francis-Hughes

Laval (Québec)  H7S 2C3

Service hours are Monday to Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Below is a list of other paratransit companies for the Laval region:

• Coop des Taxis de Laval
  4405, boulevard Saint-Martin Ouest
  Laval (Québec)  H7T 1C5
  (450) 688-8700
• CIT des Basses-Laurentides
  33, rue Blainville Ouest, suite 103
  Sainte-Thérése (Québec)  J7E 1X1
  (450) 435-9374
• CIT de Deux-Montagnes
  400, boulevard Deux-Montagnes, bureau 210
  Deux-Montagnes (Québec)  J7R 7C2
  (450) 473-4786