RTC: “Difficult Years” in Focus

Despite being able to complete the 2023 budget thanks to government aid linked to the pandemic, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) expects to experience “difficult years” thereafter.

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Alain Mercier, RTC’s outgoing general manager, explained this while presenting the network’s 2023 budget today, worrying about the “context of the movement”.

The RTC predicts a return to 84% of its pre-pandemic ridership level in 2023.

But, mainly due to teleworking, this rate should not exceed 90% in subsequent years.

In the future, the basis of comparison for traffic will no longer be the last pre-pandemic year (2019), but the year 2023. The RTC believes this will give a more accurate picture of the situation.

At the same time, the service level at RTC will practically reach the same level as in 2019 in 2023 (ie 99%).

End of COVID-related assistance

Only 2.5% of its budget of $256.3 million, despite inflation, was able to benefit from emergency aid from the Quebec government related to the RTC epidemic.

By 2023, this contribution will be $12.6 million.

However, in the budget documents, “as the emergency assistance program ends, new sources of permanent, earmarked, recurring and index revenues must be developed quickly, otherwise the RTC will have to make choices about a balanced fiscal framework”.

When asked about the content of these “options”, Mr. Mercier — who is set to retire at the end of the month — acknowledged that the RTC will have to figure out how to fund its share of about $90 million in transportation electrification.

On the other hand, Alain Mercier assured that the current negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement for the RTC drivers are going smoothly.

RTC drivers remain without employment contract from June 30, 2022.

There is no general increase in prices

While the consumer share for RTC financing must increase by $10 million in 2023, Mr. Mercier assured that this should not be seen as a sign of an imminent general increase in the prices of tickets and memberships.

The budget documents state, somewhat cryptically, “various strategies [qui] Analyzed to maximize average revenue per trip”.

RTC president Maude Mercier Larouche added late in the afternoon that the steep increase in prices was “not undesirable.”

Other RTC Budget 2023 Highlights

• Very popular, the Flexibus service will be extended to Saint-Augustin-de-Desmours and L’Ancienne-Lorette. The expansion will be brought forward by a few months.
• For its third season, bike sharing (àVélo) plans to increase its service level by 75%. Citizens and tourists can use 1 to 700 bicycles^er May 2023.
• Social cost will come into force from 1^er April 2023. A 33% reduction in fares is planned for low-income earners. The regulations will be announced in early 2023.