Perth County transit funding applications approved

The following media release was drafted and distributed by the County of Perth on Friday, May 25, 2018. It is being shared by the Town of St. Marys on behalf of the County of Perth. 

The County of Perth and the City of Stratford will each receive $1.45-million dollars in provincial grant funding over 5 years from the Ministry of Transportation “Community Transportation Grant Program – Municipal Stream (CT Program).”

Perth County, its member municipalities of North Perth, West Perth, Perth East and Perth South, along with the City of Stratford and the Town of St. Marys, worked in partnership to submit the synergistic proposals that will benefit all of Perth County’s residents as one joint project.

“Perth County is very pleased with the Ministry’s announcement,” said Perth County Warden Walter Mckenzie. “Securing this funding was truly a collaborative effort.”

The joint project will involve the creation of a Perth County Transit System to link the communities of Stratford, St. Marys, Mitchell, Sebringville, Monkton, Atwood, Milverton, Listowel and Millbank. The preliminary concept is to have this operation Monday to Friday, with up to four round trips daily. The project would also establish a Stratford/Perth Regional Transportation Service which will connect the Perth County transportation hubs of Stratford and St. Marys to intermodal services in London and Kitchener, and provide a direct link from Listowel to intermodal services in Kitchener.

“Access to transportation significantly impacts the economic development, health and overall quality of life in our communities. In Perth County, St. Marys and Stratford, reliable transportation is needed for residents to reach healthcare services, employment and educational opportunities, recreation and social services. It is also imperative for the expansion of our local businesses and the labor force,” said Warden McKenzie. 

Detailed route planning and fares remain to be finalized, and a transit service will be selected through a competitive process.

“We looking forward to working together to launch this exciting project in the coming months,” said Warden McKenzie.

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