Paratransit

Paratransit is a complementary public transit service that facilitates the travels of persons with reduced mobility or those with a cognitive disability, so that they can participate fully in the development of their community.

Since late 2005, the Quebec government requires that every municipality offer specialized transit to its population, which has resulted in a vast paratransit network covering most of the province’s territory. Paratransit users who qualify as such with their municipality or regional county municipality (MRC) can thus travel and have access to services that meet their needs. Organizations offering paratransit operate with reservation policies. Therefore, we recommend contacting them at least 48 hours before your departure to make sure the service is available to you.

With the intent to increase its vehicle fleet and meet the growing demands for specialized services, the ministère des Transports du Québec (Quebec transport department) unveiled its Policy Respecting Public Transit in June 2006. One section of the policy specifically aims at answering this demand through a grant program for adapting taxis and intercity motorcoaches, making them wheelchair accessible.

Who is paratransit for?

Specialized transit services are for people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities that prevent them from using regular public transit.

What are the eligibility criteria for using specialized transit ?

Specialized transit services – or paratransit - are adapted to the specific needs of persons with a disability that greatly impairs their mobility.

Thus, will be deemed eligible for paratransit, a person who meets the following two requirements:

1. Being a disabled person, which means having a significant and chronic handicap that limits your ability to carry out normal activities;
2. Having such limitations with regards to mobility that would warrant the use of paratransit service. Only the following significant limitations will be considered relevant in determining admissibility to paratransit:

• inability to walk 400 metres on level ground;
• inability to climb up a 35-centimetre step with support, or the inability to climb down such a step without support;
• inability to carry out an entire commute with regular public transit;
• inability to perceive time or orient oneself in a given environment;
• inability to control situations or behaviours that could be detrimental to one’s safety or the safety of others;
• inability to communicate verbally or through gestures, in association with another significant disability.

You city or town’s specialized transit service offices will provide you with the application form for admissibility which includes a list of required documents.

For further information, please refer to the Eligibility for Paratransit policy of the ministère des Transports.

How can I find specialized transit in Quebec?

Get in touch with your municipality or regional county municipality (MRC) where they will give you the contact information of the organization providing the service on their territory.

What are the conditions for using specialized transit in my area?

Organizations offering specialized transit on their territory have their own operating rules, including with regards to advanced booking and fares. The easiest way to plan you travels is to communicate with them directly.

Where can I find information about services available for people with disabilities?

The Office des personnes handicapées du Québec (OPHQ) is an organization that works to ensure the quality of life and social integration of people with disabilities. It oversees ongoing efforts to improve opportunities and services for people with disabilities. It also coordinates actions to deliver services to the disabled and their families.

Kéroul is an organization whose mission is to make tourism and culture accessible to persons with limited mobility. It also works together with governments and businesses to increase accessibility. Kéroul has put together a tourism directory called “Le Québec accessible”, which assesses some 1,000 establishments and points of interest in Quebec based on the organization's accessibility criteria.

Specialized transit organizations can also help, most of them being members of one association: l’Union des transports adaptés et collectifs du Québec (UTACQ).

Is there an organization representing paratransit users?

Yes. The Alliance des Regroupements des Usagers du Transport Adapté du Québec (ARUTAQ), whose mission is to support user groups, promote the development and improvement of specialized transit services and maintain relations between the various stakeholders in the field. It also takes various actions to ensure the respect of individuals’ rights to adequate and safe services.

Which establishments offer services to the disabled?

There is a multitude of establishments that work to welcome people with a physical or cognitive disability. For tourism and culture, visit Kéroul’s website or purchase their tourism directory.

What government assistance programs are available for specialized transit

Visit the ministère des Transports website for more information.