Back to SearchA total of $4 million in funding for 10 public transit projects in Stratford was announced today by the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece and Mayor Dan Mathieson.
The approved projects include 6 new conventional buses, two new mobility buses and 8 more accessible bus shelters, as well as upgrades and improvements to the existing fare box system.
Two additional projects are also aimed at making the transit service more accessible, convenient and reliable for users:
GPS TRACKING
The City of Stratford will be investing in new hardware and software that will allow riders to use a mobile app to track the location of their bus along the route, and when it’s expected to arrive at their stop, using GPS.
Additional features of the new system include easy-to-read LED signs on the buses to display the upcoming stops, as well as an automated voice call-out to announce the next stops. A digital sign will be installed at the Downie Street Transit Terminal to display arrival times of the buses, based on that GPS data.
New equipment will also be installed on the buses to visually alert drivers if they are ahead, behind or on schedule, and vehicle locator devices will help staff monitor the entire system and make system adjustments remotely.
ON-DEMAND PILOT PROJECT
Stratford Transit is moving forward with a pilot project for an on-demand Sunday transit service.
Here’s how it will work:
The existing 285 bus stops will be used as pick-up and drop off locations for the on-demand service.
The bus will not travel along fixed routes, but instead will pick up and drop off passengers at the specific stops they have requested through a mobile app on a smartphone or tablet, or a desktop computer.
Customers will choose a starting point (the nearest bus stop, based on their location) and then a destination. The system then informs customers when the bus will pick them up at their chosen stop.
Those customer requests are relayed to the bus driver, who uses a tablet to track pick ups and drop offs. The system generates turn-by-turn information for the driver, and continues to optimize the route as additional calls come in.
The system will only plan one stop at a time, to ensure no stops are inadvertently missed.
Customers can track the bus in real time through the mobile app or computer.
Here are a few more facts about the on-demand service:
- Regular fares apply
- Customers register for the service using their personal email
- Trips can be booked online days, weeks or even months in advance
- For those without access to a smartphone, tablet or computer, trips can be booked in advance by calling the Stratford Transit office
- If the Sunday pilot project is successful, it may be expanded to include weekday and Saturday evenings
A similar on-demand service was introduced in Belleville last year for its late-night route, and its pilot project saw ridership increase by 300%. Mayor Dan Mathieson and City staff, including Community Services Director David St. Louis and Transit Manager Michael Mousley, visited Belleville last spring to see (and ride) the system in person.
More information about the announcement is available on the Infrastructure Canada website
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