Bruce County council received an update on a regional transit study.
The update on the Bruce-Dufferin-Grey-Wellington Regional Transit Study from staff included some preliminary recommendations.
The County’s Director of Transportation and Environmental Services, Adam Stanley, shared the update with council during Thursday’s meeting.
“Given the size and complexity of this regional study, the project team is recommending additional time in the study phase. This will ensure partner councils, and the SMART board have the best information available before making final decisions on the proposed network,” he said.
Stanley added that as a pre-approval step, the project team is also recommending the re-introduction of two previously successful transit routes.
Those two routes were the extension of Grey Transit Route 5, from Owen Sound to Wiarton, which is proposed to begin in 2026.
The second was the seasonal Sauble Beach extension to Route 5, which will be brought forward for consideration through the 2027 budget process.
“These services would operate under the existing operating and funding frameworks, with approximately 50% of the costs offset through OTIF funding,” he explained.
Stanley outlined that county staff and project partners had identified the need for further analysis for specialized transit. With support from the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF), that evaluation would be completed during the final phase of the study.
Stanley also gave a timeline for when council would hear a full presentation of the Draft Unified Transit Network, saying that council can expect a detailed presentation this Fall, and final recommendations planned for the Spring of 2027.