Mayor Mike Bradley hopes to see some changes to the Inter-Community Bus Service connecting Sarnia and London, if council commits to a five-year partnership.
On Monday, Sarnia council will be asked to work with Middlesex County Connect and contribute nearly $380,000 over five years to maintain the service, or walk away from the partnership.
The current bus service, funded by the Community Transportation Grant and operated by Voyago, launched in August 2020. However, funding through the provincial grant is slated to end on March 31, 2026.
In order to continue the service, Middlesex County applied to the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF) and was approved to receive $3.4 million over five years, which is 50 per cent of the total cost.
Bradley stressed the importance of public transportation connecting nearby communities.
"I'm a little concerned about the pricing per customer but I think that can be addressed. I think there needs to be better marketing by this organization. Many people do not know that service exists right now between Sarnia and London," said Bradley. "I'd also suggest that as a city council, we could ask the county to take an overall role, which is a county-wide service."
A one-way trip between Sarnia and London costs $20.
Ridership peaked in October 2023 with 440 passengers but began decreasing in 2024, and is currently sitting at around 150 passengers in Sarnia per month. Other transit options and a drop in the number of international students were listed as possible reasons for the decline.
"I would make the point over and over again, a lot of people do not know this service has existed for five years," Bradley said.
The city has a limited amount of time to express interest in the partnership, as Middlesex County Connect wants to confirm all partner commitments by the end of October.
A report to city council states there is some flexibility with how the service would be budgeted for, if approved.
"In the scheme of the budget, it's a limited amount of money over five years and transportation again is so vital for people," Bradley said.
Based on the timing of this request, the cost will not be included in the draft 2026 budget and would need to be added during budget deliberations.
The County of Lambton was asked to commit $422,813 over the next five years as a partner municipality, but council voted to defer the matter to Sarnia and Plympton-Wyoming -- which was approached as a possible partner since one of the stops on a proposed additional route would be in Camlachie.
Plympton-Wyoming's commitment would have been $8,743 annually for five years. However, town council declined the partnership as it currently receives inter-community transit services from the Huron Shores Area Transit system.
If the local municipalities do not support the Middlesex County proposal, the matter can go to Lambton County Council for further consideration.
Sarnia council's meeting on Monday, October 20 begins at 1 p.m.
