Public transit development assistance program – Stream 3

• Financial assistance of up to 75% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $15,416 per month per bus route for a period of up to 12 months (for service maintenance, improvement, or development).
• Up to 100% coverage of the operating deficit, up to a maximum of $100,000 for preventing the imminent abandonment of a bus service, once per route.
• For substitute intercity bus routes after service abandonment, up to 100% of eligible expenses, capped at $15,416 per month for up to 12 months.
• Financial support for technological tools to reduce GHG emissions: up to 50% of eligible project expenses, to a maximum of $100,000.

• The applicant must be an authorized municipal authority listed in the official register of eligible municipal organizations for regional public transit and intercity bus transportation, or a holder of an intercity bus permit issued by the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ), depending on the specific stream of funding sought.
• For development and maintenance of services: The applicant must propose projects to maintain or improve, or to develop, intercity bus transport services on eligible routes.
• For support in cases of imminent service abandonment: The applicant must be a current permit holder operating a route at imminent risk of abandonment, with evidence provided either by a CTQ service abandonment request or a municipal council resolution.
• For implementing technology to reduce GHG emissions: The applicant must hold a valid intercity bus transport permit from the CTQ and propose implementation of technological tools that support service improvement and GHG reduction.

Who is eligible?

• Municipal authorities authorized to organize public transit services
• Intercity bus transporters holding a permit issued by the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ)

Who is not eligible

• Companies that do not hold a permit issued by the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) for relevant activities.
• Private sector businesses and organizations not identified as municipal authorities or intercity bus carriers in accordance with the program's criteria.
• Projects that would compete with existing intercity bus routes or duplicate services already covered by the program.

Eligible expenses

• Operating expenses for maintaining or improving intercity bus routes, including related costs for parcel transport.
• Expenses for developing or establishing new intercity bus services, including route-specific costs and parcel transport expenses.
• Deficit coverage (operating loss) for bus operators facing imminent service abandonment, including all revenues and expenses associated with parcel transport.
• Expenses for implementing replacement intercity bus routes to ensure continuity of service, including costs for parcel transport, transportation costs, administrative fees, and user contributions.
• Acquisition, development, and implementation of technological tools aimed at reservation and ticketing systems, differentiated pricing, or interconnection with other carriers, provided these contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Project management and administration costs directly related to eligible activities listed above.

Eligible geographic areas

• Entities located in Quebec.

• Applicants should consult the "Modalités d’application 2022-2025" document for detailed program requirements before preparing an application.
• Applications can be submitted at any time up to the deadline listed in the program's management calendar.
• Only one financial assistance grant per year is permitted for technology acquisition or development, though annual funding can continue if implementation exceeds one year.
• Technological projects financed for the first time must comply with Canadian intelligent transportation system architecture standards as set by the Transportation Association of Canada.