Future of rural public transit services uncertain despite more people getting onboard

Ridership levels for local inter-community transit services are increasing, but there are concerns over dwindling funding to keep them afloat past 2025.

Middlesex County Connect is one such service — it connects London to Arva, Ilderton and Lucan in the north, and Dorchester, Putnam, Ingersoll and Woodstock to the east, for the low cost of $5.

The service launched its current routes on May 29, and while it's too early to make concrete observations on long-term trends, ridership has seen an upswing since the changes.

"Even speaking to transit services in other counties, they're all seeing an upward trend in ridership. We're coming out of a pandemic, gas prices are high, and we're going through inflation," said Anum Maqsood, Middlesex County's community transportation project manager.

On top of a general increase in ridership due to changing habits, the bus service is expected to see a major uptick in use once students are back in school, according to Maqsood.

"This is much needed, right? I get public inquiries on a daily basis, I get emails, calls almost every day, people appreciating the fact that the service is around and it's affordable," she said. "We don't have many transportation options in Middlesex County, so this really makes a difference."

Despite the difference programs like Middlesex County Connect make, though, they're still dependant on provincial funding — funding that's creeping ever closer to running out.

In 2018, through the Community Transportation Grant Program, the provincial government awarded select communities funding for transportation projects. Due to the pandemic, that funding was extended for some places to 2025.

In total, Middlesex County was given $2,427,944 in funding, which was split across multiple transit projects, including Middlesex County Connect.

"We need ridership. We need to build a case for transit. When we talk to the public, we always get asked for more stops and routes," said Maqsood.

"I always say, why don't we use what's already in place, right? If we don't build ridership on our existing infrastructure, the chances of having even this service operate beyond 2025 are pretty slim."

Vital service for some

If there's one thing riders of the Middlesex County Connect's north route can be sure of, it's that driver Mark Guy will be there for them.

He drove para-transit vehicles for eight years, and has spent the last three driving for Middlesex County Connect. 

He tells CBC News he thinks he's found his calling.

"Having grown up in the country, the only way I could get anywhere was by bicycle," he said. "This opens up a lot of doors for people who need help getting around."

Whether it be simple outings, important appointments, or getting to and from school, Guy says people depend on the service, and it would be a serious blow to see it gone after funding runs out.

That's a sentiment one of his most consistent passengers, Kevin Garton, agrees with.

"I like it. It gets me out in the morning, gives you something to do, and I like doing it because I like seeing the country," said Garton. "It's super important, 100 per cent."

Garton suffers from depression and says the service has been hugely helpful in getting him from London to rural communities where he can disconnect from the busy nature of city life.

"The government needs to help out with these services, because there are people who need it," he said.

Transit too disorganized

Despite the impending end of funding for such projects approaching, it's unclear how they'll survive after that date.

"We don't know what the plan is. It could be the case that the province expects municipalities is to step in and fund this all by themselves. We hope that the province will continue to provide operating support," said Terry Johnson, the president of public transit advocacy group Transport Action Canada.

What inter-community transit projects need most after funding, though, is coordination, Johnson said.

"What we saw with the grants was that the money was put our there, but the capacity building was not put out there. For example, Elgin County didn't apply for this funding, because nobody had that job," he said. 

Looking no further than mismatches in arrival times for buses from different routes, or the fact that there is no bus connecting St. Thomas to London despite high demand, shows glaring flaws that Johnson says would be best addressed by people dedicated to the issue.

His group is pushing for the creation of a body to oversee efforts to expand public transit capabilities.