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A message from the District of Muskoka
Through funding provided by the Government of Ontario, and in partnership with Hammond Transportation Ltd., the District Municipality of Muskoka (the District) is excited to announce a new transportation service for Muskoka.
The new service, called Rural and Community Connection, connects Muskoka communities east and west while providing timed connections to other transportation networks within and beyond Muskoka. The new service launches on Tuesday January 19, and will operate on two different routes running east and west. Each route is operated one day per week—Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tuesday’s route runs return trips from MacTier to Port Carling, Milford Bay, Bracebridge, Baysville, and Huntsville. The Thursday route runs return trips from Midland to Port Severn, Honey Harbour, Bala, Gravenhurst, and Bracebridge. For riders needing to travel north and south, connections will be made in Bracebridge and Gravenhurst to the District’s Corridor 11 Bus. The schedule also establishes connections to the Simcoe County LINX service in Midland for riders travelling to Barrie. In addition, the schedule has been coordinated with other local service providers to the extent possible including the Wave in Bracebridge and Huntsville Transit.
Can’t Get to One of the Route Stops? Request a Flex Stop!
In addition to providing designated stops, the new Rural and Community Connection service schedule has also been designed to accommodate what is known as a “flex stop.” A flex stop allows riders to request a pick-up and/or drop off spot that is located within a five-minute return trip from the existing route. Flex stops aim to support those who may not be able to access one of the existing schedule stops and must be requested 24 hours in advance of your trip.
Do You Require an Accessible Vehicle?
An accessible vehicle is available should a rider require one. Requests for the accessible vehicle must also be made 24 hours ahead of time.
Fares
Due to difficulties related to the safe collection of fares during the ongoing pandemic, rides are complimentary until further notice. Riders are asked to limit their travel to essential trips only. When fare collection resumes, it is anticipated fares will range from $5-$15 and will be proportional to the distance travelled.
Feedback
We want to hear from you! The new Rural and Community Service is a pilot project to be delivered until 2023. We want to ensure that it is meeting the needs of residents and to do that, feedback is important. Let us know about your experiences with the new service and share any thoughts you have for improvement.
More information about the new Rural and Community Service, including schedules, flex stops, and accessible vehicle requests can found on the District’s website at www.muskoka.on.ca/
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Shelley Lacosse says
During a stay at home order? Cram a lot of people onto a bus where they can’t social distance? For non essential reasons. Brilliant timing.
Bonnie Branton says
Wonderful that this rural bus service has been approved now!
Will look forward to safer times in the future to use this extended service. Seniors with out of town appointments etc. will be very grateful.
Paul Sass says
I think the timing of this new service is perfect! These routes service communities with residents who might not have vehicles or have limited services. They become isolated and unable to obtain things most of us take for granted. A sincere “thank you” to the District of Muskoka for caring about our smaller communities!
Lucille Frith says
Timing of announcement is not compatible with our travel restrictions at the moment but for the longer game plan, it is essential to be able to connect more rural communities with the more urban hubs for so many reasons. This interconnectivity allows travellers to then continue to connect – through Corridor 11 bus, Lynx or even Ontario Northland bus service and hopefully soon, the passenger rail through Muskoka connecting to Toronto (think GO, TTC bus and subway) and North Bay. This feeder system is what is needed not only to get more cars off the roads but to facilitate those who do not drive or do not wish to drive or are unable to drive but need to get somewhere.
Commonplace in southern Ontario! Called public transportation!
I applaud the District of Muskoka in connecting their communities.
Thorough marketing this service will help to insure it’s success and viability.
To bad we’ve not found a way to move more adults by utilization of the school buses in a similar way. Has anyone ever researched seriously at that as another option?
Greg Gormick says
All political BS. This could be done cheaper, more efficiently and with greater local business impact by giving the business to local taxi companies. It figures that someone in Huntsville representing a faux advocacy group — who still really believes the Conservatives are going to restore the Northlander — would endorse this wasteful nonsense.
Just wait until the inadequate provincial funding evaporates after this government goes down in 2022 and see how long all of these disjointed and infrequent services last when they get thrown onto the municipal and regional tabs.