The sun was shining on yesterday’s launch of the new regional transit service linking St. Thomas with London and Dorchester.
But ironically it was the brief blocking of the sun in the afternoon that resulted in a busier than anticipated first day of operation.
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston was aboard the early morning bus to Dorchester and remained aboard for the return trip which offered a pleasant surprise.
Operated by Voyago, the new route will run Monday through Saturday, offering commuters four round trips per day, with two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Preston pointed out you can book your trip up to seven days in advance on the Blaise Transit app.
The app also allows for live-tracking of a particular bus.
It’s part of a one-year pilot project managed through Middlesex County and funded by the province.
Preston noted they will be monitoring the service carefully and, if needed, the route and schedule can be tweaked.
Anum Maqsood, Community Transportation Project Manager with the County of Middlesex added it is all about developing ‘a transit culture,’ something already established in St. Thomas.
She indicated the expectation is a steady growth in ridership over the coming months.
Fares for a one-way trip on all Middlesex County Connect routes, including the new route, are set at $5. Children aged 5 and under, veterans, and support persons ride free of charge.
Passengers can pay fares using cash or credit/debit payment on the bus.
A complete route schedule can be found at the link below.
