About

Mission and values

The mission of MRC Brome-Missisquoi’s Public and paratransit services is to increase people’s mobility and promote social, academic and professional integration for people with disabilities.

MRC Brome-Missisquoi’s Transit services is a key actor in the region. The transit team is driven by the same four universal values as the MRC in its day-to-day implementation of action plans:

Sustainable, long-lasting development in the region;
Local collaboration (public participation, consultation and communications);
Respect for the region’s six unique areas;
Innovative entrepreneurial initiatives (boldness and creativity).

Key dates

May 25, 1990

The non-profit paratransit organization Auto-Amie Inc. was incorporated by letters patent on May 25, 1990, in order to, according to its general bylaws, [translation] “establish a comprehensive transit service for people with disabilities in the MRC Brome-Missisquoi and La Pommeraie CLSC area and provide transit to all eligible people who need it, at the lowest possible affordable price.”

Originally, the service area covered seven municipalities, including the Town of Farnham, which served as the organization’s mandatary.

May 2005

A pilot project was launched in May 2005 to set up a rural public transit service throughout the MRC. The system, which was already serving users of paratransit services, welcomed these new users, and a daily route to Cowansville was established.

2006

The pilot project became a regular service.

March 1, 2008

The MRC took over public and paratransit. Auto-amie was then dissolved.

Today

Paratransit services now operates in 21 different municipalities: 19 in MRC Brome-Missisquoi, 1 in MRC de Rouville (municipality of L’Ange-Gardien) and 1 in MRC du Haut-Richelieu (Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville).

Public transit services now operates in 23 different municipalities: 21 in MRC Brome-Missisquoi, 1 in MRC de Rouville (municipality of L’Ange-Gardien) and 1 in MRC du Haut-Richelieu (Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville).

According to Collectivitesviables.org, sustainable mobility requires a transit system that:

Fulfills individuals’ main access needs in a fair, safe and healthy manner;
Is affordable, efficient, based on multiple transportation choices and supports a vibrant economy;
Minimizes the use of space and resources, integrates well into the community and reduces greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Challenges

Optimizing transit resources during a labour shortage;
Maintaining the service offering and developing sustainable initiatives in the face of challenging economic conditions;
Purchasing electric vehicles, which are still expensive and have low range;
Electrifying our services, which requires careful planning to maintain the service offering at an affordable cost.

Currently, the MRC’s Transit services uses hybrid (gas and propane) minibuses.