Grey County’s warden is optimistic new provincial funding can help support the creation of a robust regional public transit system.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers recently confirmed in a release $9.5-million from the Ontario Transit Investment Fund to support continuing service on Grey Transit Route 2 Dundalk to Orangeville, and for “integrating new and existing transit services” in Grey, Bruce and Dufferin counties into “a single regional transit network.”
Grey County Warden and Town of the Blue Mountains Mayor Andrea Matrosovs says the funding commitment from the province is for five years.
Matrosovs says it’s too early to comment on the specifics of what a regional transit system involving Grey, Bruce and Dufferin counties could look like, but believes this is an opportunity to come up with a sustainable service that meets the needs of residents.
She says this is a “pivotal moment” for Grey County to work with Bruce and Dufferin to meet the public transit needs of residents on a “greater, regional scale.”
“If we can take this first year to plan out the best option we have, and then run it for the next four years … hopefully, get that ridership up to the point where it’s so sustainable we won’t have to rely so much on provincial funding,” Matrosovs says.
Grey County’s public bus service Grey Transit Route has been reduced to one remaining route between Dundalk and Orangeville along Highway 10, due to the expiry of previous provincial funding through the Ontario Community Transportation Program. Grey Transit Route previously had buses running from Owen Sound to several other communities along Highways 6, 10 and 26, and Grey Road 4 between Flesherton and Walkerton.
Matrosovs says the data gathered by Grey County through running various different routes will be helpful with planning for any new services from this new provincial funding.
“One of the things we learned, we really need to recognize people need to move between where they work, and where their medical appointments are, and where they live,” Matrosovs says. “It’s not necessarily all going to be within one municipal boundary. What we’ve learned is users might need to cross in another region as well.”
She expects the next several months will involve collecting data, communicating with the other counties, and having staff from each county bring information for each independent council to consider what a transit partnership could entail. Matrosovs says Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit will also be a key partner for the counties in planning, because of its intimate knowledge of the transportation needs around the region.
“SMART has a long history since the 1970s of being able to provide transportation for those who have physical challenges. They also know the routes. They know the needs. They know where people want to get to,” Matrosovs explains. “And that’s the kind of boots on the ground experience we need to add to what we learned from (Grey Transit Route).”
Grey County’s warden says no new transit services will begin until 2026 at the earliest. But with the $9.5-million funding commitment from the province, Grey, Bruce and Dufferin counties can begin to plan and collaborate to meet the needs of each county.
The Ontario Transit Investment Fund helps start up or expand transit services in unserved — or underserved — rural areas of the province. According to a government release, the annual budget is $5-million starting in 2025-26 and the province will cover up to 50 per cent of costs for transit projects “that encourage integrated, coordinated and sustainable transit services.”
