Key takeaways
- Transit authorities are our largest customer segment by volume — TTC, STM, OC Transpo, Calgary Transit, BC Transit, Edmonton Transit Service all maintain active spec sheets with our hardware.
- Bus shelter benches face the highest grind frequency of any bench type in Canadian cities — often the only continuous metal seat in a 5-block radius.
- We've shipped 50,000+ studs to Canadian transit since 2018 with zero documented warranty failures on stainless 316 grade in coastal cities.
Why transit authorities are our biggest segment
Transit infrastructure suffers more grind exposure than any other property type. Bus shelters are unmanned 24/7, station ramps are public-access at all hours, and platform-edge ledges run continuously for hundreds of metres. The TTC alone operates 5,200+ shelters across Toronto, with maintenance budgets that get re-allocated every time a grind event damages a bench slat or pulls a handrail bracket.
TTC and STM standards
TTC's Bench and Shelter Specifications Manual explicitly lists skate-stopper hardware as a standard install on new shelters since 2021. STM Montréal's Plan de protection du mobilier urbain specifies bronze-patina deterrents for heritage districts (Vieux-Montréal, Plateau Mont-Royal) and stainless-finish for modern stations. Both agencies require AODA / LAPHO accessibility compliance documentation with every install — we provide this documentation as standard.
Procurement and bonding
Transit-authority orders run through multi-year supply agreements rather than one-off RFPs. Once you're on the approved-vendor list (typically a 6-month evaluation cycle), orders flow against the master agreement. We hold active multi-year agreements with TTC (renewed 2025), STM (renewed 2024), and Calgary Transit (initial agreement 2023). Our bonding limits cover up to $2M per project with $5M aggregate annual liability.
Climate engineering for transit
Transit hardware is outside year-round with no protective enclosure — it sees the worst of Canadian climate. Our transit specs use 316 marine-grade stainless even on inland routes (TTC's downtown corridor sees enough road-salt spray to warrant 316). For Vancouver SkyTrain stations and Halifax MetroX shelters, we use 316L low-carbon stainless which resists pitting from the salt-air conditions specific to coastal transit.
Procurement timing for Canadian municipalities
Most Canadian municipal procurement cycles run on a 3-year capital plan, with skate-deterrent installs typically scheduled in the spring/fall window after frost has cleared. We respond to RFP requests within 5 business days and carry stamped engineering for every climate zone. Bonded crews work prevailing-wage municipal contracts across Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Quebec.