Affordable transportation comes to Perth County with PC Connect
Posted Nov 17, 2020 12:30:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A long-time void in the Perth County community, PC Connect has made its soft launch, offering affordable, reliable bus transportation within the county and surrounding areas. Funded by a community transportation grant program through the government of Ontario, the bus service will look to expand its service through the extend of its pilot project to 2023.
Maggie Martin is the Transit Project Coordinator for PC Connect and says the bus service was created after hearing of high demand through community consultation in 2019.
“There was a great turnout in our initial feasibility research (…) and we really learned of the need and demand for transportation to get to employment, access to healthcare and social services and to also provide access to other transportation services in the surrounding area.”
The transportation service marks its soft launch with five routes, offering fixed transportation within Perth County and surrounding areas to Stratford, St.Marys, Kitchener-Waterloo and eventually London. Martin said the service is expected to launch fully early next year, with more stops and features being implemented.
Buses operate at various stops throughout the locations, from Monday to Saturday with hours in the early morning and evening. With the ongoing pandemic, buses are running at 50% capacity. PC Connect is asking riders to reach out to the service ahead of time to book a trip, arriving at their local stop before pick-up. All PC connect buses are fully accessible, with ramp access for multiple wheelchairs.
All buses on the new transportation service are following COVID-19 safety protocols, with mandatory masking, enhanced cleaning procedures and trips limited to essential service. Martin adds that the service is offering riders half off their fare prices for a limited time to encourage members of the Perth County community to travel responsibly on the service.
To find more on the new pilot project, and for routes and bus schedules visit the Perth County Website.
