Owen Sound is turning to Grey County to ensure a bus service to Guelph continues after provincial funding ends.
The city’s operations committee passed a recommendation at its meeting Thursday to have staff initiate discussions with Grey County, in hopes of having the county take over the GOST bus — or Guelph-Owen Sound Transit service.
City council still needs to formally approve the committee resolution.
The GOST bus runs twice daily along Highway 6 between Owen Sound and Guelph. It has stops in Chatsworth, Williamsford, Durham, Mount Forest, Arthur, Fergus and Elora. It costs between $5-$20 to ride, depending on where you hop on.
Owen Sound’s supervisor of environmental services Heidi Jennen told operations committee members provincial funding fully covers the cost of the GOST bus and it will end next year, on March 31, 2025.
“Unfortunately, I have attended meetings for extending this type of grant funding … and there is no more funding,” Jennen says.
The city received provincial funding in 2019 to establish Guelph Owen Sound Transit. Jennen’s report says the pandemic initially hindered ridership, but the service has become more popular the last couple of years.
More than 10,100 people used the service in 2023. That was an increase of about 62 per cent over 2022, when there were about 6,200 rides.
The GOST bus generated $125,000 in fare revenue last year. The net cost of operating it was $259,000, covered entirely by provincial grant funding.
“It’s a shame to hear the province is not going to continue that funding model for it,” says Coun. Travis Dodd. “I think this is something that needs to be brought to county’s attention.”
Jennen says Wellington County — which has several communities with stops on the southern part of the route — has shown a “keen interest” in ensuring the Highway 6 public transit service continues.
“We feel it’s appropriate to enter discussions with Grey County to take over the service, and they can work with Wellington County,” Jennen explains.
Some Owen Sound operations committee members commented on the importance of the GOST bus service continuing.
Committee member Donald Anderson: “As a person with a disability, I can’t get in my car and drive to Guelph. I really appreciate the service and use it fairly regularly.”
And Deputy Mayor Scott Greig says his family has relied on the GOST bus for trips between university and Owen Sound.
“In terms of convenience, it’s wonderful,” Greig says.
