A Quebec First — A Next-Generation Solution for Credit Card Payments on All Laval Buses

STL is bringing on new business partners 

Laval, December 10, 2020 – The Société de transport de Laval (STL) today unveiled the new team of partners that will oversee the rollout—a first in Quebec—of the new scalable payment solution on all STL buses in 2021. French company Flowbird will supply the new contactless payment terminals and the accompanying software solution and will team up with Canadian company Moneris to coordinate transactions. This project is supported and funded by the Autorité régionale du transport métropolitain (ARTM) and will equip the entire STL bus fleet with this new system by summer 2021, if all goes as planned.

This initiative follows the pilot project—which is still ongoing and was launched as a Canadian first in April 2017—in partnership with Desjardins Group. As announced last year, Desjardins Group is stepping down as the provider of transportation payment solutions. The agreement between the STL and Desjardins Group will expire on October 31, 2021, which should allow for a seamless transition between the two systems for customers.

Like its predecessor, the new solution will accept payments via Visa and Mastercard and will be compatible with most contactless payment apps on smartphones. More modern and scalable, it will support smart matching and allow for the gradual addition of new features, including contactless debit payments and payments via other types of credit cards.

Quote from Marc Demers, Mayor of the City of Laval
“Improving public transit services is one of the most effective ways to protect our environment. It is definitely a priority for our administration. When innovation not only improves services for citizens but also contributes more broadly to environmental protection, I believe it is an ambition worthy of praise.”

Quote from Éric Morasse, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STL
“We are extremely proud of the team we have assembled to lead this ambitious project aimed at modernizing public transit payment systems in Quebec. Contactless payment allows for a spontaneous transaction and provides a simple solution to the main barriers to taking the bus, particularly when transferring between modes of transportation. How much does it cost? Where do I buy my ticket? Now more than ever, in the current context, we must do everything we can to ensure public transit remains a part of Laval residents’ daily commutes.”

Quote from Bertrand Barthelemy, CEO of Flowbird
“Contactless bank cards have become consumers’ preferred method for paying for small, everyday purchases. Flowbird’s Open Payment solution allows these bank cards to be used as transit passes. In Laval, occasional travelers will no longer have to purchase a transit card or find a ticket vending machine. These solutions make traveling very easy.  The solution is contactless, which is reassuring during these pandemic times. Our Open Payment solution is very comprehensive and includes endless possibilities for simplifying transit ticket management, which can be added over the coming years. Ease, speed, and fluidity are the hallmarks of our Open Payment solution.”

Quote from Pasquale Pizzi, Vice President, National Account Management, Moneris
“The Moneris Transit open payment system will securely process fare payments made with a credit card or smartphone, thereby streamlining the management of contactless interactions in STL vehicles. “We are pleased to partner with Flowbird on this innovative project, offering greater flexibility to STL users.”

Quote from Michel Lemay, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Marketing, and Customer Experience at ARTM
“Today, we are pleased to continue this project with our partners at the STL, the City of Laval, as well as Flowbird and Moneris. As the pandemic makes travel needs and habits less predictable, it is important to maintain projects that make citizens’ daily lives easier and to draw on these experiences to fuel the evolution of payment methods in the metropolitan area.”

About the Société de transport de Laval
The STL develops and operates an integrated network of bus, school bus, shared taxi, and paratransit services that handle more than 19 million trips per year. The STL’s regular bus network comprises 47 routes, some 2,700 stops, and covers more than 1,500 kilometers across the Laval area. The STL ranks among the most innovative transit agencies in North America. www.stlaval.ca.

About Flowbird
Alongside the challenges posed by the evolution and densification of urban spaces, cities must adapt to the ever-changing needs of their residents. Flowbird supports decision-makers in organizing, developing, and managing mobility within their jurisdictions, thereby helping to address new economic, quality-of-life, and environmental challenges. Through its solutions, mobile apps, and online services, Flowbird helps improve the environment by reducing air pollution, optimizing traffic, and simplifying mobility payments—thereby making cities safer and more economically sustainable.
With over 60 years of experience and more than 100 million weekly users, Flowbird continues to make significant investments in research and development (7% of annual revenue) to keep offering its customers cutting-edge solutions. Learn more: www.flowbird.group

About Moneris
Moneris is the leading provider of innovative payment solutions for mobile, online, and in-store transactions. In fact, it processes more than one in three transactions across the country. Moneris provides businesses of all sizes and across all industries with hardware, software, and solutions that help them transform the way they operate and do business—whether it’s payments or beyond. To learn more, visit www.Moneris.comand follow @moneris.

About the ARTM
The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain was established by Bill 76, which reformed the governance of public transit in the Greater Montreal metropolitan area. With a focus on sustainable development and regional cohesion, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain plans, organizes, finances, and promotes public transit and paratransit in the Greater Montreal area to provide a simple, integrated, seamless, and efficient mobility experience. To this end, it develops a strategic development plan, a funding policy, a fare structure, and service agreements that guide the development, organization, and funding of these services. To achieve this, the Authority works to mobilize key stakeholders in the public transit sector around a unified vision

Sources:
Laval Transit Authority
Estelle Lacroix
Communications Advisor
c. 514-264-2089

City of Laval – Mayor’s Office
Alexandre Banville
Director of Communications
450-978-6888, ext. 4127 | 514-772-2984
[email protected]

Flowbird
François Mottet
Head of Product Management & Strategy
Phone: +33 6 79 17 81 66
[email protected]

Moneris
Julie Deschambault
Consulting Director, Capital Image
c. 514-891-8645
[email protected]

Montreal Transit Authority
Simon Charbonneau
Advisor, Public Affairs and Media Relations
514-409-2786 ext. 7408
[email protected]