Public transit ridership is increasing in Prince Edward County and has the support of council.
At Committee of the Whole on Thursday, councillors agreed to continue the relationship with County Transit for specialized and conventional transit through March 31, 2025.
While the specialized service for seniors and those with disabilities has been in service since 2007 (operating as Quinte Access), the conventional service was added in 2020 after the municipality secured provincial funding to create a full transit service.
Quinte Access was hired to expand its services and became County Transit.
Specialized service operates on-demand while conventional service uses a mix of fixed routes, flex routes and scheduled on-demand rides.
Conventional transit rides are expected to rise 34% this year over 2022 to more than 6,500 rides.
Specialized service is also increasing with ridership this year anticipated to exceed 10,000, however, that is still below the 12,300 rides taken in 2019 pre-pandemic.
Council also directed staff to continue to include funding for specialized and conventional public transit services in each municipal operating budget during this term of council, as an indication of long-term support for transit services in Prince Edward County.
The matter still needs final approval at a future meeting of council.
Some council members did have concerns about how County Transit is being affected by private ride sharing company URide.
A report on the company’s pilot project in Prince Edward County is expected in the new year.
