The City of Owen Sound and Grey County have received provincial government funding to create two public transit services.
In a release, Mayor Ian Boddy said the city is pleased to be able to add an inter-community transit link after many years of limited service.
With the two services operating in harmony, Grey County's 99,000 residents can count on dependable, accessible, inexpensive transportation for wherever they need to travel.
"Guelph Owen Sound Transportation", or "GOST", is a bus program operated by Voyago and will connect Owen Sound and Guelph with additional stops in Chatsworth, Williamsford, Durham, Mount Forest, Arthur, Fergus and Elora. It will operate seven days a week and offer two round trips daily beginning on April 1, 2020.
In addition, Grey Transit Route, or "GTR", connects Owen Sound with the rest of Grey County through three different fixed routes; Highway 10 to Orangeville, Highway 26 to Town of the Blue Mountains, and Highway 6 to Wiarton. These routes will operate five days a week, depending on the line, with a minimum of two runs per day beginning this spring.
Boddy said in addition to current Greyhound services, this is a positive addition to Owen Sound and for all residents of Grey and Bruce counties.
Grey County Warden Paul McQueen added that access to affordable and reliable transportation is crucial to the economic and social well being of rural communities.
"Once operational, Grey Transit Route will create new opportunities for commuters to affordably travel to work, appointments, services, and social activities. It will support youth, seniors and everyone in between,” said McQueen.