Government assistance program for public transportation

Who is eligible?

• Public transit corporations established under the Act respecting public transit companies
• Regional Metropolitan Transport Authority (ARTM)
• Metropolitan Transit Network (exo)
• Municipal and intermunicipal transport organizations (OMIT), including municipalities and regional county municipalities (MRCs) that have declared competency in public transit, municipal and intermunicipal transport boards, and groups of municipalities organizing and financing urban or regional public transit services

Who is not eligible

• Organizations that have failed to meet their obligations in connection with previous government funding, after being duly notified, within the two years preceding the new funding request.
• Companies or organizations seeking funding for intercity transportation projects.
• Entities proposing projects for the acquisition of thermal-engine buses or vehicles (unless a lack of electric alternatives is explicitly demonstrated for vehicles of service).
• Companies not operating as municipal, intermunicipal, or public transit authorities as defined by provincial law (i.e., private or for-profit commercial organizations providing public transit services are not eligible).

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees and legal costs directly related to planning and realization of the project (excluding costs arising from legal actions or claims).
• Preparation of plans and specifications, engineering, and work supervision expenses.
• Construction and procurement costs required for project realization, including site preparation and associated services.
• Expenses required for electrification of networks, including acquisition of rolling stock, replacement of batteries for electric or hybrid buses, and necessary modifications to installations and infrastructure (excluding charging stations for clients or staff).
• Purchase and installation costs of equipment, systems, and devices needed for project implementation.
• Acquisition of spare parts to establish a minimum inventory ensuring ongoing operations.
• Acquisition of manual or portable tools specifically required for the project and not used for routine maintenance.
• Acquisition and installation costs of urban furniture and landscaping integral to an eligible project.
• Rental costs for land, buildings, vehicles, equipment, or other installations specifically needed during project works.
• Expenses for the construction or repair of infrastructure necessary for the operation of the eligible project (e.g., priority lanes for buses).
• Compensation measures required by regulation regarding impacts on wetlands and water environments.
• Mitigation measures to limit negative impacts caused by project work on service operations.
• Acquisition and installation costs of lighting and mandatory signage.
• Acquisition of land, including expropriation costs, rights of access, easements, surface rights, and servitudes.
• Costs associated with the purchase, repair, or expansion of buildings used directly for collective or adapted transport services.
• Costs for works, equipment, or devices to facilitate access and exit from vehicles and rolling stock.
• Communication activities directly associated with the project as stipulated in financial agreements.
• Acquisition of artworks for installations, as recognized under government policy.
• Short-term interest expenses related to project financing via the Quebec Ministry of Finance or a financial institution.
• Travel expenses for personnel involved in project monitoring, outside their service territory, adhering to government rates.
• Audit and evaluation costs required by the Ministry.
• Contingency fees and risk provisions necessary for project execution.
• Net applicable taxes (after eligible reimbursements).

Eligible geographic areas

• Province of Quebec

• Step 1: Preliminary Authorization
  • Submit a request for preliminary authorization to the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable by ensuring your project is registered in the Plan québécois des infrastructures (PQI).
  • Include a project brief justifying the need, describing the project and planned work, annual cost breakdown, and timeline.
• Step 2: Receive Confirmation of Preliminary Authorization
  • After PQI approval by the Conseil des ministres, receive written confirmation from the Ministry, which reserves funds for your project but does not guarantee reimbursement for costs incurred before final authorization.
• Step 3: Prepare Financial Aid Application
  • Complete the prescribed financial aid application form, available on the Ministry's website.
  • Gather and prepare all supporting documents required for the analysis of the project, such as project description, needs analysis, objectives, contextual information, analysis of alternatives, conceptual plans, detailed budgets, governance structure, risk analysis, and applicable resolutions or approvals.
  • Ensure all details align with the "Conditions of Project Eligibility" outlined in the program.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Email the complete application with all supporting documentation to the address provided on the Ministry's website.
• Step 5: Application Review and Final Authorization
  • The Ministry reviews the application against the program’s requirements.
  • If approved, receive written confirmation of the project’s final authorization and the maximum financial aid granted.
  • If not approved, receive written notification of the refusal.
• Step 6: Sign Engagement (for funding of $250,000 or more)
  • For grants of $250,000 or more, sign the engagement form prescribed by the Ministry, committing to respect the program's conditions and obligations.
• Step 7: Receive Financial Aid
  • Once final authorization (and engagement, if required) is complete, financial aid payments are issued according to the terms set in the program.
  • Payments are typically made in installments based on project progress and submission of required documentation.
• Step 8: Project Follow-Up and Reporting
  • Provide ongoing project updates, financial reports, and comply with any audit or evaluation requirements from the Ministry.
  • Submit a final report and compliance certificate after project completion to confirm adherence to the authorized project scope.

• Beneficiaries must comply with the visibility protocol set by the Ministry for all financial aid programs.
• The Minister reserves the right to request additional or adjusted documents from applicants or beneficiaries.
• Full or partial reimbursement of financial aid may be required if program conditions are not met or documents are incomplete.
• Confidential data on users or project results cannot be disclosed to third parties without written authorization from the beneficiary.