Transit

City of Stratford Transit and Parallel Transit provide an affordable and convenient alternative to driving within the City on regularly scheduled transit routes. Read further to learn about our rates, schedules, Parallel Transit, and special services.

News Items

Service updates are no longer posted in this section. Please see section Service Updates and Changes.

September 1, 2021 - New Fixed Route Option to be added to On Demand Saturdays

To our valued Transit Customers,

Based on ridership information collected over the past few months, as well as feedback from customers, Stratford Transit will be adding a condensed fixed-route service on Saturdays, to go along with our On Demand Service.

Starting Saturday, September 4^th, a condensed #1 Huron and #2 East End fixed route will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It will be offered as an interline route, which means the bus will travel from the Downie Street terminal along the East End route, back to the terminal and then along the Huron route and then back to the terminal. As a starting point, each condensed route will be 20 minutes in duration.

The fixed-route Saturday service will be in addition to the on-demand Saturday service. Customers should ensure they have selected the correct option, as the fixed-route service will not be able to deviate from it’s designated route.

Riders will be able to tell which bus is approaching based on the sign on the front of the bus. The fixed-route bus will display either #1 Huron or #2 East End, while the on-demand buses will display On Demand on the sign. If you are unsure of which bus has arrived, please confirm with the driver before boarding.

Customers using the fixed-route Saturday service will still have the ability to track bus arrivals in real time using the Transit Tracker feature at https://onyourway.stratford.ca/

August 17, 2021 - Stratford Transit School Specials for 2021/22

For the more than 400,000 students we transport yearly, Stratford Transit provides School Special buses weekday mornings and afternoons for Stratford Intermediate School, Stratford District Secondary School, and St. Michael Catholic Secondary School. Those buses leave from the Terminal and travel to the schools starting in the morning at 7:25 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.

Based on the current student information made available at time of publishing, an updated schedule has been developed in anticipation of ridership volumes. The morning AM Specials will continue as they have in the past and will travel a few minutes ahead of the scheduled routes. The afternoon PM Specials will change somewhat, due to large numbers of students looking for transportation within a 10-minute window at dismissal times.
The #1 Special (East End/Devon), #2 Special (McCarthy/Huron), #3 Special (Queensland/Downie) will arrive at Stratford Intermediate School (bus loading zone on Birmingham) at 2:40pm and depart at 2:50pm. Specials #1, #2 and #3 will proceed to SDSS and will arrive at the Oakdale Ave bus stop at 3:00pm. Specials #1, #2 and #3 will arrive at St. Michael’s at 3:05pm.
Due to the volume of Students at dismissal time, the direct shuttle to the Terminal will be removed and replaced with all 3 School Special buses (as noted above) which will eliminate the need to transfer and more of a direct route
Please note that, in keeping with direction provided by Huron Perth Public Health, Stratford Transit riders are expected to wear face coverings while on the bus, if they are able to.
Please continue to review our School Special and Service Updates and Changes section as these routes could possibly be adjusted frequently over time based on ridership statistics.

For further information regarding School Specials please call 519-271-0250 extension 405.

March 24, 2021 - Expansion of On-Demand Customer Service

Stratford Transit is introducing some improvements to our weekend On Demand service to better serve our valued customers.

Starting this Saturday (March 27), our customer service hours will be expanded. Customers can receive assistance by phone from 7am to 7pm Saturday by calling Stratford Transit at 519-271-0250 extension 264. (Entering extension 264 at any time during the recorded message will direct the caller to a Stratford Transit staff member). If the call is not answered immediately, please leave a callback number so that we may contact you as soon as possible.

Also, the Sunday Transit On Demand service will be adjusted to help improve efficiency for customers on the first bus of the day, at 10am. The customer service line will also be available from 10am to 5pm on Sundays for those who need some assistance or want to book a trip.

The Stratford Transit office will maintain its regular weekday customer service hours, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 7pm, for any transit-related questions.

October 22, 2020 - Stratford Transit Tracker Launches October 26

Stratford Transit is pleased to announce the official introduction of the Stratford Transit Tracker, launching on Monday, October 26. It will be available then at https://onyourway.stratford.ca.The real-time bus tracking tool uses GPS technology to pinpoint the exact location of a bus and when it’s due to arrive at a stop. Up-to-date information on detours and delays, nearby stops and precise arrival times will also be provided to passengers using the tracking service.

Stratford has additionally secured seven new 24-inch monitor displays to be installed on each bus, retiring the traditional one-colour light announcement scrolling systems.
The media monitors will be highly visible and vibrant, improving the accessibility of content offered to passengers that will include operational messages, revenue-generating commercials and current City news.

“We are excited to introduce this innovative tracking tool and media system to our Stratford riders,” said Transit Manager Michael Mousley. “The system puts the convenience of transit travel at the fingertips of passengers, making it easy to receive updates as they happen, via a personal computer or phone.”

In addition to offering real-time bus monitoring for riders, the Stratford Transit Tracker will provide transit operators with passenger counters, on-time reporting, detailed route information, better communication options with other drivers and in-depth key performance indicators to improve overall transit operations.

For information on the Stratford Transit Tracker service and using the mobile app and online site, click here.

How can we direct you?

Parallel Transit
P riority and Courtesy Seating
Transit Accessibility Public Meeting
Transit Schedule & Bus Stop Locations
Transit Rates
Transit Service for Industry, School Specials, Charters
Transit Tracker - Check Bus Locations and Routes
Saturday and Sunday On-Demand Service
Where to Buy Transit Passes
Procedures for Serving Passengers with a Disability

Transit Schedule and Bus Stop Locations

Transit Terminal Location: Cooper Block (Shakespeare Park on Downie Street)

Planning your trip? Take these steps:

Download the Transit System Map
Review route service dates and times (below).
Prior to your trip, check the Service Updates and Changes. There is no service on Public Holidays.

Monday - Friday Service Schedule and Stop Locations

Download the Monday - Friday Transit Schedule and Stop Locations (effective January 2021)

Saturday and Sunday On-Demand

New July 2020, book your Sunday rides by On-Demand. Find out how.

Turn-By-Turn Route Descriptions

Service Update and Changes

September 17, 2021 - New Fixed Route added to On Demand Saturdays (Schedule and Map)

Starting Saturday, September 4th, a condensed #1 Huron and #2 East End fixed route will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It will be offered as an interline route, which means the bus will travel from the Downie Street terminal along the East End route, back to the terminal and then along the Huron route and then back to the terminal. As a starting point, each condensed route will be 20 minutes in duration.

Customers using the fixed-route Saturday service will still have the ability to track bus arrivals in real time using the Transit Tracker feature at https://onyourway.stratford.ca/

No Service on Public Holidays

Stratford Transit operates 7 days a week from the temporary transit hub at the Cooper Block on Downie Street across from Shakespeare Park, except on the following Public Holidays:

New Year's Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Family Day
Canada Day
Civic Holiday
Labour Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Boxing Day

Stratford Transit Transfer Policy

Stratford Transit has a transfer policy to add more flexibility for riders. Customers are now able to transfer at any stop in the city. Please keep in mind the following:

1. Transfers are only valid for 1 hour.

2. If you transfer back onto the bus you left originally, the transfer may not be accepted electronically in the fare box. If this is the case, the driver will manually inspect the transfer to ensure it is valid (time/date).

Questions regarding should be directed to the Transit office at 519-271-0250 extension 264 during business hours.

Transit Rates (2021)

	Details	Cash	Tickets	30-Day
Children	5 and under	free	free	n/a
Student	Applies only to elementary/secondary students, and ODSP and Ontario Works Clients. Identification will be required.	$2.50	$2.25	$55.00
Affordable	Applies only to elementary/secondary students, and ODSP and Ontario Works Clients. Identification will be required.	$2.50	$2.25	$57.00
Adults	19 - 64 years	$3.00	$2.75	$67.00
Seniors	65 and older	$2.75	$2.50	$57.00
Day Pass	Single rider and valid until end of service day	$7.00	$7.00	n/a
Family Pass	Up to 4 riders with a least one adult and valid until end of service day	$15.00	$15.00	n/a

Transfers are valid for up to 1 hour anywhere in the city.

Where to Buy Transit Passes

All passes and schedules are available through the City's main reception, on the second floor of Stratford City Hall. Passes/tickets can also be purchased (except affordable passes) at the following locations:

Transit Service for Industry

Effective December 17, 2018, we have an updated transit service for city factories, provided Monday thru Friday. Click here to review Line #7, Transit Service for Industry.

School Specials

We transport more than 400,000 students yearly via our morning and afternoon school specials.

Schedule and Turn-by-Turn Route Descriptions (Morning)

Morning (AM) School Special Schedule

Schedule and Turn-by-Turn Route Descriptions (Afternoon)

#1 School Special East End/Devon

14:30 – Depart Transit garage

Left onto Erie St.
Left onto St. Patrick St.
Right onto Church St.
Left onto St. Andrews St.
Left onto Birmingham St.

14:40 – Arrive Stratford Intermediate School (School bus loading zone on Birmingham)

14:50 – Depart Stratford Intermediate School

Right onto Worsley St.
Right onto St. Vincent St. N
Left onto Huron St.
Right onto Huntingdon Ave.
Left onto Hibernia
Right onto Forman Ave.
Left onto Oakdale Ave.

15:00 – Arrive at Stratford District Secondary School (Oakdale Ave bus stop cut out)

15:05 – Depart Northwestern. Proceed to St. Michael’s

Left onto O’Loane Ave.
Left onto Huron St.
Left onto Ontario St.
Right onto Downie St.
Arrive at Transit Terminal.

15:20 – Depart Transit Terminal.

Left onto Downie St.
Right onto Douro St.
Left onto Romeo St.
Right onto Oxford St.
Right onto Burritt St.
Left onto Douro St.
Continue onto C.H Meier BLVD.
Right onto Avonwood Dr.
Left onto C.H Meier BLVD.
Right onto Ontario St.
Right onto Gordon St.
Right onto Willow St.
Left onto Devon St.
Right onto Romeo St.
Right onto Vivian Line 37.
Right onto Fairfield Dr.
Right onto McCarthy Rd. E.
Left onto Mornington St.
Left onto Glendon Rd.
Right onto Dawson St.
Left onto Delamere Ave.
Right onto Romeo St.
Right onto Brunswick St.
Left onto Waterloo St.
Left onto Downie St.

#2 School Special Stratford Secondary & St. Michael’s Catholic Secondary School to Terminal

14:30 – Depart Transit garage

Left onto Erie St.
Left onto St. Patrick St.
Right onto Church St.
Left onto St. Andrews St.
Left onto Birmingham St.

14:40 – Arrive Stratford Intermediate School (School bus loading zone on Birmingham)

14:50 – Depart Stratford Intermediate School

Right onto Worsley St.
Right onto St. Vincent St. N
Left onto Huron St.
Right onto Huntingdon Ave.
Left onto Hibernia
Right onto Forman Ave.
Left onto Oakdale Ave.

15:00 – Arrive at Stratford District Secondary School (Oakdale Ave bus stop cut out)

15:05 – Depart Northwestern. Proceed to St. Michael’s

Right onto Matilda St.
Right onto Short St.
Left onto Forman Ave.
Right onto Fraser Dr.
Right onto McCarthy Rd. W.
Left onto Graff Ave.
Right onto Kemp Cres.
Right onto Graff Ave.
Left onto Mornington St.
Right onto McCarthy Rd. W.
Left onto Greenwood Dr.
Left onto Waddell St.
Left onto Warwick Rd.
Right onto Glastonbury Dr.
Left onto Princess St.
Right onto Mornington St.
Right onto Huron St.
Left onto Matilda St.
Left onto Douglas St.
Right onto Forman Ave.
Left onto Cawston St.
Left onto Huntingdon St.
Left onto Huron St.

#3 School Special Queensland/Downie

14:30 – Depart Transit garage

Left onto Erie St.
Left onto St. Patrick St.
Right onto Church St.
Left onto St. Andrews St.
Left onto Birmingham St.

14:40 – Arrive Stratford Intermediate School (School bus loading zone on Birmingham)

14:50 – Depart Stratford Intermediate School

Right onto Worsley St.
Right onto St. Vincent St. N
Left onto Huron St.
Right onto Huntingdon Ave.
Left onto Hibernia
Right onto Forman Ave.
Left onto Oakdale Ave.

15:00 – Arrive at Stratford District Secondary School (Oakdale Ave bus stop cut out)

15:05 – Depart Northwestern. Proceed to St. Michael’s

Left onto O’Loane Ave.
Left onto Huron St.
Left onto Ontario St.
Right onto Church St.
Right onto St. Andrews St.
Left onto Birmingham St
Right onto Cambria St.
Left onto St. Vincent St. S.
Left onto West Gore St.
Right onto Erie St.
Right onto Lorne Ave.
Right onto St. Vincent St. S.
Left onto Easson St.
Left onto John St. S.
Left onto Queensland Rd.
Right onto Freeland Dr.
Left onto McGregor St.
Right onto Queensland Rd.
Left onto Lorne Ave. W.
Left onto Erie St.
Right onto St. Patrick St.
Right onto Downie St.
Left onto Shakespeare St.
Left onto Front St.
Right onto Regent St.
Right onto Romeo St S.
Right onto Norfolk St.
Left onto Borden St.
Right onto Simcoe St.
Left onto Morgan St.
Right onto Lorne Ave E.
Right onto Downie St.
Right onto Bruce St.
Left onto Essex St.
Right onto Elgin Cres.
Left onto Borden St.
Left onto Norfolk St.
Left onto Downie St.
Right onto Whitelock St.
Right onto Home St.
Left onto Brydges St.
Left onto Louise St.
Right onto Whitelock St.
Right onto Oak St.
Left onto Dufferin St.
Left onto Maple Ave.
Left onto Home St.
Right onto Player St.
Left onto Downie St.
Left onto West Gore St.
Right onto Cambria St.
Right onto McKenzie St.
Right onto St. David St.
Left onto Downie St.

Stratford Transit Charters

We can provide special transit service for in-town charters. The rate is $85.00 per hour, plus taxes. To book your charter, please contact us at 519-271-0250 extension 405 during regular business hours.

Priority & Courtesy Seating

Show you care! Offer your seat to someone who needs it more than you.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) requires businesses and organizations to provide accessible services to people with disabilities. The goal is for Ontario to be fully accessible by 2025.

The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR, 191-11), is a standard developed under the AODA which includes 80 accessibility standards relating to transportation, employment, and information and communications. Compliance dates set out in the IASR range from July 2011 through January 2021.

In compliance with Section 49 of Regulation 191-11, Ontario's public transit authorities now provide Priority seating designated for use by passengers with disabilities.

Transit authorities recognize there are other customers who would also benefit from having a seat near the front of the bus. A Courtesy seating area has been designated for seniors, expectant mothers, adults travelling with infants/small children or any other customer who may benefit from a seat near the front of the bus.

Priority Seating

Priority Seating is for the use of passengers with a disability. These seats are located close to the front of the vehicle. Customers are expected to respect and obey the purpose of the designated seating area, which means if you are sitting in one of these designated seats, you MUST vacate the seat for a passenger with a disability.

Please note:

A person with a disability occupying a Priority seat is not required to move for another customer with a disability. Use of these seats is on a first come-first served basis.
You are not required or expected to leave a transit vehicle in order to make room for a customer with a disability.
Bus drivers/operators will not intervene to enforce the requirement. We ask, however, that you show consideration for those whose need is greater than your own.

Courtesy Seating

Courtesy Seating is intended to provide additional seating for people who will benefit from having a seat near the front of the vehicle including:

Seniors
Expectant mothers
Adults travelling with infants or small children
Any other passenger who may benefit from a seat.

If you are sitting in one of these designated seats, please respect its purpose and give up your seat to those who need it.

Please note: Drivers/operators will not enforce this requirement or intervene in any dispute related to Courtesy Seating. We ask, however, that you respect this designated seating area and show consideration for those whose need is greater than your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there both Priority Seating and Courtesy Seating areas on a bus?

The Priority Seating area is a regulatory requirement under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The Courtesy Seating area is provided in addition to the Priority Seating area for passengers who may benefit from a seat, but do not have a disability.

I am a passenger with a disability. What do I do if the Priority Seating area is full when I board the bus?

Politely remind the customers seated in the Priority Seating area of its intended use and ask that they make room for you.

What do I do if the passengers seated in the Priority Seating area refuse to move for me?

Please remember that passengers in the Priority Seating area may suffer from a disability that is not easily recognized by others and they may not be comfortable discussing it in public. If the passengers in the Priority Seating area do not move when requested, proceed to the Courtesy Seating area to find a seat.

The Priority Seating decal states that other passengers MUST vacate for a passenger with a disability. If someone refuses to move for a passenger with a disability, who will make them obey the sign?

The wording on the decal is a legal requirement under Regulation 191-11 but the Regulation does not provide any reference to enforcement. Given the vast number and varying degree of disabilities, many of which are invisible, it would be extremely difficult for a third party to determine who is more entitled to the Priority Seating area. As such, we expect customers to do the right thing.

Can I ask the operator to force passengers to vacate a seat for me?

Drivers/operators will not intervene in a dispute between passengers regarding a seat.I am a person with a disability. When I board a bus which is full and people are both seated and standing in the Priority Seating area, do other passengers need to vacate the bus to make room for me in the Priority Seating area?No. Public transit is first come, first served. Other passengers who have paid a fare are not expected to vacate the bus to make room for other passengers. If you are not comfortable completing your trip without a seat, please wait for the next bus.

Stratford Transit Tracker: A Smarter Way To Travel

Photo Gallery: Stratford Transit Tracker will appear here on the public site.

We will introduce the Stratford Transit Tracker, launching on Monday, October 26. The real-time bus tracking tool uses GPS technology to pinpoint the exact location of a bus and when it’s due to arrive at a stop. Up-to-date information on detours and delays, nearby stops and precise arrival times will also be provided to passengers using the tracking service.

Stratford has additionally secured seven new 24-inch monitor displays to be installed on each bus, retiring the traditional one-colour light announcement scrolling systems.
The media monitors will be highly visible and vibrant, improving the accessibility of content offered to passengers that will include operational messages, revenue-generating commercials and current City news.

How to use Stratford Transit Tracker

Load the website https://onyourway.stratford.ca/ (available on October 26) onto any device with a web browser. You can use your cell phone, tablet, or computer.

Select a stop name or number. The application will automatically display planned and forecasted departures in real-time with route number, destination, and next two departures.
To track the bus and view the route pattern, select any departures listed on the right side of the screen, and press "View live on map." The route pattern and the bus is now displayed on a map in real-time.

How to save Stratford Transit Tracker to your to Phone Screen

iPhone, press the button circled in red. Press "Add to Home Screen." The real-time bus tracking website should now be displayed as an "app" on the home screen.
On an Android phone, press the three-dot menu button on the top right corner of your browser. Press "Add to Home screen." The real-time bus tracking website should now be displayed as an "app" on the home screen.

Saturday & Sunday On-Demand Transit Service

Effective February 6, 2021, Stratford Transit will move to an On-Demand Service on Saturdays. Sunday On-demand launched on July 5, 2020, has been successful and remains as a service.

On Demand allows transit to meet the current needs of customers while routing vehicles only to requested stops. Customers will be able to schedule a ride based on their own timeframes and route desired stop, allowing passengers to get anywhere in the city.

The Hours of Operation for On-Demand are:

Saturdays, 6am to 8pm
Sundays, 10am to 5:30pm

Make a Reservation for On-Demand

Mobile App - "On-Demand Transit - Rider App" is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, and can be used to book rides any time of day for any time of service. When asked for a transit code, please enter the word stratford.
Online - The online reservation portal is now open. Book your rides using a laptop or computer by connecting to ridestratford.ca.
Phone - To book a ride over the phone, call 519-271-0250 extension 264, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, and Saturday from 7am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Those looking to use the mobile app or online service can may find it useful to review the online user guide for preferred devices.

Learn About the On-Demand Service

To better understand the On-Demand Service, click here to learn more.

On-Demand Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Have a question about the On-Demand Transit app and on-demand transit? Click to review our FAQ section.

On-Demand COVID-19 Protocols

Stratford Transit would like to thank all passengers for practicing social distancing, and ask that the service only be used for essential trips (employment, groceries, pharmacy, etc.). Where possible, nonessential trips (social-based trips) should be avoided. As a reminder, please wear a face covering, if able to do so, while using transit.

Should any passenger exhibit illness or flu-like symptoms, they are prohibited from riding the bus. Passengers are reminded to practice recommended hygiene etiquette while utilizing transit including:

Cough and sneeze into the bend of your arm, not into your hand
Practice social distancing where possible by maintaining a distance of two metres
Stay home when you are sick and avoid contact with other people until your symptoms are gone
Washing hands as soon as possible or once you’ve reached your destination