Bruce County is exploring the next steps of a partnership with neighbouring counties to move forward with a regional transit partnership
The county, in partnership with Grey, Dufferin, and Wellington counties, as well as Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) have secured up to $9.5 million through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF) to explore the development of a regional transit system.
County staff is requesting that $145,000 in further funding be included as part of the 2026 budget, to financial support and endorse the continuation of a proof-of-concept study.
“We have a set of funding sources that we can use to do that, and maybe the re-allocation of those funding sources is something we might need to consider,” said Warden Luke Charbonneau. “I think bottom line, this creates an opportunity for us to look holistically at the whole set of needs across this very large region.”
Environmental Services Manager Andrew Beumer told council that the study is expected to be completed in second quarter of 2026, at which time staff will provide service details and cost information.
Charbonneau said, “The desired outcome here is to have a comprehensive solution for transit that serves the needs of everybody in our region – people who currently access SMART, and the level of service they require, as well as many other people who need transit.”
This initiative builds on the medium- and long-term findings of the 2023 Transit Demand and Feasibility Study, with short-term actions already underway.
The $9.5 million in OTIF funding builds on the $50,000 in federal support already provided through the Rural Transit Solution Fund.
Wellington County most recently joined the initiative through a buy-in agreement, further expanding the partnership.