Grey County is rolling out its new public transit service next month, and it will be free to ride at first.
The service known as Grey Transportation Route (GTR) will begin operating on Sept. 14, the county confirms in a release.
It will offer four routes in the region:
-Highway 6 between Owen Sound and Wiarton
-Highway 10 between Owen Sound and Orangeville
-Highway 26 between Owen Sound and The Blue Mountains
-Grey Road 4 between Flesherton and Walkerton
“Once fully operational, the GTR will provide the 99,000+ residents of Grey County with a dependable, inexpensive transportation option for travelling with in the different communities in the area. And with future connections to other transit lines, the GTR offers a gateway for Grey County residents to travel to the greater Toronto area and beyond,” a news release from Grey County explains.
The service will be free to ride from September 14 to October 31. Grey County advises on Nov. 1, fares will begin at a cost of $5 for adults and $4.50 for students on the Highway 10, 26 and Grey Road 4 routes. The Owen Sound to Wiarton Highway 6 service will cost $3 for adults and $2.50 for students.
Children ages five and under ride free on Grey Transportation Route services.
Driverseat Owen Sound has been contracted by Grey County to provide 10 passengers vehicles for GTR routes.
County officials say Driverseat staff have been operating throughout the pandemic with safety and sanitizing procedures in place for the protection of staff and users.
The Highways 10 and 26 routes will run five days a week — Monday to Friday. The Highway 6 service will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. The Grey Road 4 route will run only two days a week, on Monday and Friday.
The public transit service will launch in waves with the Highway 10 corridor route between Owen Sound and Orangeville first to begin running on Sept. 14.
On Sept. 23, the Highway 26 route will start operating. On Sept. 29, the Highway 6 service will commence. And on Oct. 5, the Grey Road 4 route will launch.
Grey County received a $1.85-million provincial government grant through the Ontario Community Transportation program to support local and intercommunity transportation projects, including Grey Transportation Route.
“Everyone needs access to reliable, affordable transportation, and a lack of transit services creates a huge barrier for those who don’t own a vehicle or can’t drive,” says Grey County Warden Paul McQueen in a statement. “GTR can be used to get to work, medical appointments or shopping. It’s also a great service for anyone looking to get out and explore another community with a safe and reliable ride home.”
Full schedule details about the coming public transit service can be found here.