Ontario Boosting Local Transit Service in Bracebridge Province Funds New Accessible Bus to Make Comm

Ontario's investments in public transit are helping the Town of Bracebridge to Ride the Wave, which is a new transit service connecting residents to businesses, schools and recreational facilities in the urban core of the community.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca was in Bracebridge today to celebrate the new transit service, which is helping local residents leave their car behind and travel around the community more conveniently.

With support from the province, Bracebridge Transit purchased an accessible, low-floor bus that began service in November 2016. The bus runs on an hourly circuit with 47 stops.

The new accessible bus will make it easier for people with wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility devices to board the transit system. The bus is equipped with a foldout ramp and has no steps to climb, providing an accessible transit option. Bracebridge Transit is a reliable and environmentally friendly way for residents to get to schools, shopping centres, hospitals and other areas of town with affordable fares and discounted monthly passes.

Supporting public transit in small communities is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quick Facts

• Bracebridge Transit purchased its new accessible bus through funding from the provincial gas tax program and support from Metrolinx’s Transit Procurement Initiative.

• Bracebridge joined the Ontario Gas Tax Program in 2016–17 and received $130,541.

• The province provides gas tax funding to eligible municipalities to help them improve and expand their transit services. In January 2017, Ontario announced that the municipal share of the gas tax will double by 2021.

• Metrolinx’s Transit Procurement Initiative has worked with 40 transit agencies across Ontario since the program began in 2006. As of March 31, 2017, the consolidation of municipal transit procurement has saved Ontario taxpayers an estimated $18 million in purchasing and administrative costs.

• Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in our province’s history—more than $160 billion over 12 years, which is making 110,000 jobs possible every year on average across Ontario.