Nearly $15.8M for five rural transit projects to link 30 communities

What happened

• The province provided $15,755,815 through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund for five rural transit projects covering 30 communities.

By the numbers

• Total funding: $15,755,815 (five projects)
• Projects and funding:
  • Temiskaming Shores: $4,922,243 — add flexible and on‑demand options to fixed routes; launch an intercommunity service connecting 12 municipalities and one First Nations community in South Temiskaming; support first‑mile/last‑mile links to the Northlander passenger rail service.
  • Region of Waterloo: $3,444,190 — introduce or expand transit services in Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries.
  • Bradford West Gwillimbury: $4,093,337 — expand on‑demand transit and improve fare and service integration with LINX Transit in Simcoe County.
  • Riverside Health Care Facilities: $1,645,678 — launch accessible transportation between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay and expand the Medically Stable Patient Transport program with new stations in Rainy River, Emo, Fort Frances and Atikokan.
  • Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium: $1,650,367 — introduce a shuttle connecting St. Catharines and Niagara Falls GO stations to key destinations in Niagara Region.

Who benefits

• Residents of 30 rural communities, including commuters, people accessing health care, and those needing first‑mile/last‑mile links to rail and regional transit.

Why it matters

• Increases local and intercommunity transit options in rural areas.
• Adds accessible patient transport and stronger connections to regional rail and GO stations, helping people reach jobs, housing and health care services.