Perth County council has announced that the PC Connect Rural Route transit service will cease operations on March 31, 2025.
The decision, made at the council meeting on December 5, 2024, marks the end of a pilot project funded entirely by the provincial government’s Community Transportation (CT) Grant Program, as funding is set to run out by the service’s closure date.
The Rural Route, introduced in 2020, provided vital transit options to underserved areas of the county. While PC Connect Routes 1, 2, and 3, which connect Stratford, St. Marys, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and North Perth, will continue to operate as usual, the Rural Route will not be extended due to financial constraints.
“Council is pleased at the success of the PC Connect pilot program during its operating period in Perth County. The pilot project would not have been possible without the financial support from the Provincial Government,” said Perth County Warden Doug Kellum. “The cost to continue operating the service was not sustainable through fare revenue alone, and with many budget pressures facing council in the 2025 budget period, the county could not continue to fund the necessary level of service required to keep the Rural Route running beyond the pilot period.”
According to a staff report presented to council, maintaining the Rural Route beyond the pilot would cost an estimated $225,103 in 2025. Expenses are also expected to rise significantly in 2026 due to the need for new fleet vehicles as the current buses near the end of their operational lifespan. Council is grappling with inflationary pressures during its 2025 budget deliberations, making the service unsustainable without external funding.
Economic Development Officer Justin Dias expressed gratitude to riders who supported the Rural Route service over the past four years.
“We have consistently received positive feedback about the service and the impact that it has had throughout its pilot period,” he said.
A detailed plan for winding down the Rural Route service will be shared with riders in early 2025. In addition, council has pledged to continue advocating for rural transit solutions with local MPs and MPPs and has tasked staff with exploring alternative transportation options.The Rural Route’s closure underscores ongoing challenges in funding and sustaining rural transit services, despite demonstrated community demand and positive feedback.
PC Connect’s Rural Route has provided 16,890 rides to date. PC Connect has been in operation since 2020 as a result of a $2.47 million grant from the Ministry of Transportation’s Community Transportation (CT) program.
