South Bruce Peninsula hopes to work with Bruce County and Grey County save the Grey Transit Route to Wiarton.
It’s set to stop running from Owen Sound to Wiarton after Labour Day as Grey County cuts down on routes and bus stops in an attempt to maintain the GTR’s most in-demand routes amid funding struggles.
Town staff say in a report, the GTR’s future is “rather dismal, with no commitment from the province for funding beyond 2025.”
They say the route has become “A crucial transportation link for residents, connecting Owen Sound to Wiarton with stops at Springmount at No Frills, Allen ‘s General Store in Shallow Lake, Hepworth Visitor’s Centre, Wiarton Foodland, and Louisa Street.”
On Tuesday, South Bruce Peninsula council directed staff to work with Bruce County on a cost-sharing agreement to extend the Grey Transit route beyond September 2, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
They would then continue discussions beyond during the 2025 budget deliberations.
Council also approved the additional cost of $26,500 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve. The hope is that Bruce County will also pay $26,500 to cover the total operational cost of $53,000 to run the route from Owen Sound to Wiarton until the end of 2024.
Staff note in past years, South Bruce Peninsula and Bruce County have each paid half of $83,000 to run the route from Wiarton to Sauble Beach in the summer.
The Town hadn’t been paying to run the route from Owen Sound to Wiarton.
The fare is $3.00 and staff did not recommend an increase.
Tuesday’s staff report says the route is an important service that enables people to reach the hospital in Owen Sound. It also connects them to other transit routes and larger transportation hubs that enable them to get to locations like Guelph and the Greater Toronto Area.
They say, “The GTR has acted as a catalyst for improved healthcare, economic prospects, environmental responsibility, and community well-being. The loss of the GTR will have a significant impact on residents in South Bruce Peninsula.”
During discussion, Deputy Mayor Caleb Hull noted, “Transportation options are needed throughout South Bruce Peninsula and the peninsula as a whole. The reality is that we really need long-term commitments from both Counties and the Province to accomplish this.”
