County Connect bus proves popular, but will need more money to keep going

For Dhyn Patel, the Middlesex County Connect bus is more than a convenient travel option, it's an essential service that allows him to get to his job.

"I'm a student right now so I can't afford a car," said Patel while waiting for the bus on Bradley Avenue to take him to St. Thomas where he works at a shawarma restaurant.

"It's very helpful for me because I travel a lot between these two cities."

For Patel, the $5 fare is affordable and the service is frequent enough to make the 30-minute journey in time to start his shift.

He couldn't find a similar job where he lives in London, so without this bus he'd have to find another job.

"It's a tight job market right now," he said.

A staff report coming to Middlesex County council Tuesday provides an update on the bus service which started in 2020 and now connects London with Woodstock, St. Thomas, Lucan and points in between. The service is operated by Voyago.

According to the report, ridership has ramped up steadily in recent years. The service had only 1,445 riders during a COVID-curtailed 2022 but is projected to hit 15,000 trips by the end of this year.

However while the service is attracting riders, the fares don't come close to cover operating costs.

The report coming to council said there's enough money in an existing grant to keep the service running until the end of August. Middlesex County has received in-principle acceptance for $3.4 million in another source of provincial money to cover the next five years. However, that amount will only be enough to pay for half the operating costs through to 2030.

To keep the service going beyond August, the report says a cost-sharing agreement will have to be struck where at least five of the municipalities served by the bus routes contribute $422,000 over the next five years.

The report says Middlesex County is also seeking a share of the province's gas tax revenue typically earmarked for transit funding.

The report includes a motion calling on Middlesex County to finalize the funding agreement and work on securing a financial commitment from the other municipalities to keep the service going for at least another five years.

The service is currently operating with the following three routes:

• Route 1: Lucan, Ilderton, Arva. London.,
• Route 2: Woodstock, Ingersoll, Putnam, Dorchester, London.
• Route 3: Dorchester, London, St. Thomas, Southwold.

A fourth route linking London with Komoka, Mt. Brydges, Strathroy and Sarnia currently operated by the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc would be included in the Middlesex County Connect operations if the funding agreement goes ahead.

The staff report is on the agenda for Middlesex County council on Tuesday at 1 p.m.