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Care to hitch a ride county-wide? (6 photos)

SImcoe County unveils new county-wide transit buses Tuesday morning

The wheels on the bus are ready to go, as Simcoe County unveiled its new LINX transit service on Tuesday.

The first route of the new service is slated to start running in August.

County councillors celebrated the unveiling of the new buses at the Simcoe County administrative building this morning.

“This is a huge milestone for our county and we’re pleased to offer another crucial service to our residents and communities,” said Warden Gerry Marshall. “Our region has a large geographical footprint and we have a growing population of seniors, students and residents who need affordable and reliable transportation options to access health services, jobs and education hubs in other communities.”

The transit link has been the product of a 24-month conversation between the county and the varying municipalities that will be participating in the project. While the first route launches Aug. 7 and runs from Penetanguishene/Midland to Barrie with stops in Wyebridge, Waverley, Elmvale and Midhurst, there are plans for more routes to be unveiled between Orillia and Barrie (2019), Collingwood and Barrie (2019/2020), Alliston to Bradford (2020/2021) and Midland to Orillia (2020/2021).

The province has contributed $8.4 million toward the project, while the county has contributed $5 million.

“It’s a gamechanger,” said Marshall. “This truly is a valuable service.”

The new system has been revealed as a high-tech operation, with an app that riders can use to track buses in real time. The county will also be offering a LINX reloadable card for more convenient access.

For more information on the Simcoe County LINX transit service, click here.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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