The City of Owen Sound has a contract with First Transit to run the city's public transit systems until September 30, 2021. As we plan for the addition of hotels, restaurants, long-term care and residences particularly on the City's eastern edge, and the impact on transit, we might do well to look at transit developments in other smaller Ontario municipalities.

Funding for 10 public transit infrastructure projects was announced in the City of Stratford - population 31,465. Some of these, as in Owen Sound, have been driven by new accessibility standards; others by technology and demographics.

Stratford's transit fleet will be equipped with an automated voice and signage system on buses that will notify passengers when each stop is approaching. Transit users will also be able to track their bus locations using a real-time arrival smartphone application.

To encourage an increase in ridership on Sundays and improve access to public transit, the City of Stratford will pilot the design of new bus routes using an application-based, "on-demand" software. On Sundays, transit users will be able to request pick-up and drop-off locations at selected stops by using a smart phone app or by accessing the internet from their phone or a computer.

Five new conventional buses and two mobility buses will replace the aging fleet, and an additional bus will be purchased to meet the City's growing demand for public transit. The bus routes will also see improvements with the installation of eight new accessible shelters.

Together, these investments will provide residents with a more accessible and reliable bus service.

The Government of Canada is investing over $1.6 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is providing approximately $1.4 million to the projects, while the City of Stratford is contributing more than $1 million.

source: media release