By Cecilia Nasmith
The much-anticipated Metrolinx shuttle service from Northumberland County to the Oshawa GO Transit station should begin Sept. 5, Investment Attraction Officer TJ Flynn said Wednesday.
Flynn made his report at the July meeting of the Economic Development, Tourism, Land Use Planning Standing Committee of county council.
He pointed out that there are two parts to this project. There is an internal element, which is transportation within Northumberland County. And the external element is transportation between the county and the Oshawa station.
“The key to this is, it's a 12-month pilot designed to collect data regarding the transportation needs of the county. Then we will use that data both internally and externally,” he said.
“At this point, in order to facilitate that, what we really need to do is have serious engagement with the public.”
The last month has been devoted to a marketing campaign that essentially asks members of the public about their transportation needs, when they need transportation, where they are going – both internally and externally. Look for the campaign to launch on radio, newspaper, social media and through the mail. It will direct the consumer to a site where they will find a survey.
“Based on that, we will design routes within the county, we will design pick-up spots and times for transport,” Flynn said.
“We intend to have the actual service up and running by Sept. 5, so there's a lot to do in the next six weeks. But that's the target at this point.”
“I think it's exciting, and September is a good start,” committee chair Bob Sanderson commented.
Since transportation is an economic-development consideration, Sanderson asked if the Northumberland Manufacturing Association was part of this project.
“The NMA has been involved, as well as a number of employment agencies,” Flynn replied.
“I think this is vitally important to the county to get this up and running, and get it up right so that we have the ability to attract people where they know that there will be a transportation route,” Warden Bob Crate stated.
Flynn committed to active communications with all member municipalities throughout the 12-month period so that progress can be monitored and adjustments made.
A July start was initially anticipated for this service, but Flynn said the one-year pilot would be the beginning of September 2022 through the end of August 2023.
He referred to an option to close out the process after nine months.
“At this point, we fully intend 12 months,” he said.
