Brome-Missisquoi RCM and Cowansville make municipal public transit route permanent
Cowansville, June 16, 2026 – The Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality (RCM) and the Town of Cowansville are pleased to announce the permanent implementation of the municipal public transit route in Cowansville. This decision follows the positive results of the pilot project launched in April 2024, which was initially funded by the Quebec Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Town of Cowansville, and the Brome-Missisquoi RCM through the Signature Innovation component of the Regions and Rurality Fund.
The pilot project aimed to assess the relevance of a local mobility service, measure its usage, and adapt the service offering to the actual needs of the territory. The results confirmed the value of the initiative and helped identify improvements needed to strengthen and enhance the service.
As a result, the municipal route will be maintained and enter a new optimization phase designed to further improve service delivery, better meet local mobility needs, and foster stronger integration with the broader public transit network. The proposed adjustments are based on lessons learned from the pilot project and reflect a commitment to developing the service in a structured, coherent, and locally adapted manner.
An optimized route better suited to local needs
The continuation of the municipal route will be accompanied by service enhancements aimed at better addressing the needs observed since the launch of the pilot project. Service will be organized around two distinct schedules: a regular schedule, operating from August 22 to June 24, and a summer schedule, operating from June 25 to August 21.
The regular schedule will reflect periods of higher travel demand, particularly those related to school activities, daily commuting, access to services, and mobility patterns observed throughout the year. The summer schedule will provide service adapted to the realities of that season, when travel needs and ridership levels differ.
The route will also be expanded through the addition of new stops, increasing the total number from 24 to 32. This enhancement will improve local coverage, bring service closer to residential areas, service hubs, and key destinations throughout Cowansville, and facilitate access to public transit for a greater number of users.
A meaningful project for local mobility
The consolidation of the municipal route marks an important milestone in the development of a local public transit service in Cowansville. It ensures the continuation of a service that originated as a pilot project while adapting it to field observations and the needs expressed by users.
By improving territorial coverage, adjusting service according to seasonal demand, and strengthening integration with the broader public transit network, the Brome-Missisquoi RCM and the Town of Cowansville are continuing their efforts to provide accessible, sustainable, and locally adapted mobility solutions.
"The permanent implementation of the municipal public transit route in Cowansville demonstrates that, by working together, we can develop practical services that meet the needs of residents. These improvements will provide more accessible and efficient mobility for families, seniors, students, and the entire community. I would like to acknowledge the work of all partners who contributed to making this project a success and a valuable asset for the region," said Geneviève Hébert, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region and Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François.
"Public transit is a matter of accessibility and quality of life for all Cowansville residents. We are proud to make this service permanent and enhance it so that it better reflects the everyday realities of our citizens," said Sylvie Beauregard, Mayor of Cowansville.
"The pilot project allowed us to gain a better understanding of mobility needs in Cowansville and to improve the service based on concrete observations. Making the municipal route permanent strengthens a local public transit service that is useful, relevant, and complementary to the existing transportation network," added Khalil El Fatmi, Director of Transportation and Mobility Services for the Brome-Missisquoi RCM.
The continued operation of the municipal public transit route is made possible through the financial contribution of the Town of Cowansville and the financial support of the Government of Quebec under the Public Transit Development Assistance Program.
Cowansville residents seeking information on schedules, stops, and fares can visit the Brome-Missisquoi RCM website at mrcbm.qc.ca or contact the RCM’s Transportation and Mobility Services Department.
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Sources:
Isabelle Paquette
Communications Advisor
Brome-Missisquoi RCM
450-266-4900, ext. 241
ipaquette@mrcbm.qc.ca
Fanny Poisson
Communications and Citizen Relations Department
Cowansville
450-263-0141, ext. 246
fpoisson@ville.cowansville.qc.ca
