The Town of St. Marys is pulling out of the PC Connect regional transit service, with low ridership and rising municipal costs behind the decision.
The service will come to an end in St. Marys on December 31, 2026, following six years of connecting residents with communities including Stratford, London, and Kitchener-Waterloo.
St. Marys CAO Brent Kittmer says the municipality currently contributes about $155,000 annually to the service, but the number of residents using it remains relatively small.
"We average four people getting on the bus and four people getting off the bus in the community," Kittmer said.
He says the town has invested approximately $650,000 in PC Connect since 2020.
Provincial funding for the program ended in March of 2025, although municipal contributions allowed the service to continue.
Kittmer says the town had approximately $260,000 in reserves, which could have extended the service until March of 2027.
However, council ultimately determined the costs were too high to justify continuing.
An application for additional provincial funding remains unanswered.
Despite the decision, Kittmer says the municipality is not abandoning public transportation altogether.
"We're still committed to public transportation in St. Mary's," he said.
Council has instead directed staff to explore more localized transportation options, including subsidized rides for residents who face financial or physical barriers to getting around.
Those services could focus on essential trips, including medical appointments and grocery shopping.
Kittmer says the town will be "focusing more on our internal needs rather than connecting people to outside larger urban areas."
