Timeline of transit in Quebec City

Main article: Réseau de transport de la Capitale

Timeline of transit in Quebec City

1969-70

• Creation of the Commission de transport de la communauté urbaine de Québec (CTCUQ) with the acquisition and merger of the following bus operators:
  • Québec-Autobus
  • Autocars Fournier
  • Autobus Charlesbourg
  • Autobus Vanier
  • Boischatel

1972

• CTCUQ acquires Autobus Dupont.

1976

• CTCUQ acquires Autobus Laval Ltée.

1979

• Current depot is opened, replacing the depot located at the Charest/Marie de l'Incarnation intersection.

1986

• Des rocailles depot is expanded.

1992

• Major reorganization of public transit:
  • Creation of Metrobus Routes
  • Express routes are doubled
  • Basic route network restructured
  • Creation of late night services

1994

• CTCUQ becomes the Société de transport de la communauté urbaine de Québec (STCUQ)

2001

• Creation of STCUQ web page.

2002

• To reflect municipal mergers, STCUQ becomes RTC on June 19th.

2007

• Ecolobus pilot project is launched.

2008

• Ecolobus project is officially launched.
• OPUS smart card introduced.
• Proprietary trip planner Trajecto is launched. The RTC declined Google's offer for Google Transit because the Trajecto project was too far into development to be abandoned.

2009

• Construction of the Metrobus garage is completed, and acquisition of articulated buses begins.
• Independent programmer and Aragosoft founder Martin Demers publishes an iPhone/iPod Touch application dedicated to consulting RTC bus schedules offline, with no support or endorsement from the transit company.

2010

• 1$ fares introduced on Écolobus service.
• Paper tickets removed from circulation and instead offered exclusively on OPUS smart cards. Old paper tickets still accepted.
• Tests on the newly acquired hybrid bus are successful; the RTC announces that it will order 100 more hybrid vehicles over the next few years.

2011

• The RTC's position on Google Transit changed in mid-January, and by February 4th the RTC becomes available on Google Transit. Transit users with mobile phones are now able to plan itineraries on the go using Google Maps technology.
• Launch of the Metrobus 803 route, replacing former route 60.

An older RTC bus flag

File:RTC NEW BUS FLAG.jpeg

Since the introduction of Metrobus 803, RTC has introduced a new generation of bus flags, they are replacing the older flags when needed

2012

• The Metrobus service center doubles its floor space and can now service 127 articulated buses.

2013

• In March, testing of an Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double decker bus occurs on selected eXpress runs.
• In August, the launch of the new 500 series eXpress routes, linking Laurier Boulevard in Sainte-Foy to the suburbs begin. The 300 series routes are modified to reflect the change. Service reductions on many routes allow the creation of the 500 series at no cost. Route 89 is cancelled.
• In November, new colors for the regular fleet replace the blue and green striping.

2015

• January - RTC ends the Écolobus service due to rising maintenance costs and low levels of reliability regarding the electric buses. For the time being, regular buses (in particular the new 2015 hybrid buses) will serve the route.
• January to August - RTC tests a new Nova Bus LFS HEV E-series model numbered 1499. This bus features an automatic start-stop feature on the diesel engine that allows the bus to run on fully electric power for short periods of time.
• July - RTC puts the new 2015 hybrid buses into service. This bus has several features that are a first for the RTC: full air conditioning, rimless windows, and a taller front roof.

2016

• February - all Classics have been retired.
• August - deliveries of hybrid articulated buses have started and will enter service on Métrobus 807. It will replace route 7 and is a part of several service improvements starting August 20.