Le réseau d'autobus de la Société de transport de Trois-Rivières, ses tarifs et ses lignes principales en Mauricie.
1. What is the STTR?
The STTR, or Société de transport de Trois-Rivières, is the bus authority serving Trois-Rivières and its sectors like Cap-de-la-Madeleine. It is an affordable, reliable service for those without a car, especially for reaching the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
2. How do you pay for a ride?
You can pay in cash on board, but the fare is cheaper with the Carte Cité. This rechargeable card lets you buy single tickets or a monthly pass. Youth aged 21 and under — a category that covers most students — get a reduced monthly fare.
3. The main lines
STTR operates around 18 lines across the city.
Several lines connect directly to UQTR, notably lines 5, 6, 9, 14, 16, 26, 50 and 60. Others cover Cap-de-la-Madeleine (lines 8 and 17), Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap (lines 2 and 10), Saint-Louis-de-France (line 12) and Pointe-du-Lac (lines 9 and 89).
Frequency varies by line and time of day — tighter during peak hours, more spread out in the evening and on weekends.
Check the trip planner on the official STTR site or the Transit app for your route's exact schedule.
4. Fares and STTR card
Fares (2026):
- Adult cash: $4.00, exact change required
- Carte Cité (the transit card): $5.00 without photo, $8.00 with photo
- Adult monthly on card: $81.00
- Youth monthly (21 and under): $66.00
- Senior monthly (65+): $62.60
- Social tariff for vulnerable clientele: $40.50
- Children 11 and under: travel free when accompanied by a person 12+ with a valid pass (max 4 children)
- UQTR students: as of the fall 2026 session, a student vote is set to decide on Écopasse, a program that would cut the monthly pass to $40/session through mandatory institutional fees — check the program's status before paying full fare
Where to buy/reload the card: UQTR's Centre de ressources multiservice, STTR service points, online, or partner convenience stores.
| Fare / pass | Price (CAD) | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Adult cash on board | $4.00 | Occasional rider |
| Carte Cité (no photo / with photo) | $5.00 / $8.00 | All users |
| Adult monthly on card | $81.00 | Regular commuter |
| Youth monthly (21 and under) | $66.00 | Youth |
| Senior monthly (65+) | $62.60 | Seniors |
| Children 11 and under | Free with an accompanying valid pass | Children |
| Social tariff | $40.50 | Vulnerable clientele |
5. Practical tips for using STTR
Practical tips:
- Transit app or Google Maps: track buses in real time
- Bike racks at the front — useful for combining bike and bus in summer
- Winter: allow a few extra minutes — snow can delay
- Intercity: STTR doesn't serve Montréal/Quebec City — use Orléans Express from the downtown terminal (place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville)
- No passenger train: Trois-Rivières has had no VIA Rail passenger service since 1990 — the old station on rue Champflour is now used for administrative purposes only
Uber has been available in Trois-Rivières since 2022, alongside local taxi companies:
- Book via the Uber app, or call a local taxi company
6. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions on STTR: living carless in Trois-Rivières, accessibility for reduced mobility, and Montreal travel options.
Can you live without a car in Trois-Rivières?
Yes — if you live:
- Downtown
- Near UQTR
The STTR covers the urban core reasonably well, with several lines connecting UQTR directly.
Harder without a car: Saint-Louis-de-France, Pointe-du-Lac, other outlying sectors.
Many students manage carless for years.
Out-of-town trips: Orléans Express buses are the main affordable option (Trois-Rivières has no VIA Rail passenger service — it ended in 1990). Uber and local taxis fill the rest.
Plan to spend $30 to $50/month on occasional taxi/rideshare if you're not near a frequent line.
Car cost (insurance + gas + maintenance + tires + parking): $6,000 to $10,000/year — significant savings without a car if your daily life fits the bus.
Is STTR accessible for people with reduced mobility?
Yes — the STTR runs a fleet of low-floor buses with a front-door ramp on its regular routes, plus a dedicated service de transport adapté for people who can't use the regular network.
- Wheelchair spaces: reserved by signage on low-floor buses
- Service de transport adapté (door-to-door): by reservation, based on a medical certificate — registration takes some time, so apply well ahead of when you'll need it
- Some older shelters may still lack ramps — check the STTR site (`transportadaptetr.ca`) for current accessibility details on your route
Visually-impaired passengers: can request priority boarding by signaling the driver.
How to get to Montreal from Trois-Rivières without a car?
Orléans Express (bus) is the main option — Trois-Rivières has no passenger train service (VIA Rail stopped serving the city in 1990; the old station on rue Champflour is now used only for administrative purposes).
Orléans Express:
- Multiple daily trips from the downtown terminal (place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville) toward Montréal, part of the broader Québec City–Montréal corridor route
- Cost: roughly $30 to $47 one-way, depending on when you book
- Duration: around 2 to 2.5 hours with stops
Reservation recommended, particularly on Friday and Sunday.
For frequent travelers: check the Orléans Express site for monthly-pass options.
7. See also
To go further on getting around Trois-Rivières:
- Read first steps in Trois-Rivières to combine STTR, 311 and municipal services.
- Discover UQTR and student life in Trois-Rivières to activate the student pass at the start of term.
- See finding housing in Trois-Rivières to target downtown if you don't have a car.
8. Official sources
For real-time schedules, fares, and trip planning, see these resources:
Author's Note: If you study at UQTR, ask for your student pass at the start of the term. Many newcomers pay full fare in their first semester without knowing they qualify for the discount.
