GO access begins!

(Left to Right): Mike Gibson (Community Care Northumberland driver for the Commuter Connect service) welcomes prospective riders

By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County residents now have a much easier way to get to the GTA, thanks to the much-anticipated launch of the Commuter Connect shuttle bus service that connects local communities with each other and – through a partnership with Metrolinx – with GO Transit services in Oshawa.

Announced in April, this 12-month pilot project will assess local need and opportunity for increased transit options for local commuters.

Bus routes and times for this weekday service were established based on a recent community survey that drew more than 1,100 responses that showed strong demand for access to early-morning bus services, as well as the need for connections to the GO Transit network. As a result, routes will include stops at such locations as Campbellford, Brighton, Colborne and Cobourg, with connections from Cobourg and Port Hope to the Oshawa GO.

Each route cycles four times daily, starting at 5:00 a.m. for the Inter County Line (transit between Northumberland communities) and 6:30 a.m. for the Durham Line (connection to the GO). The full bus schedule can be viewed online at CommuterConnect.ca.

The county has partnered with transportation-logistics provider Hop In Technologies to co-ordinate weekday bus service. In addition to operating the on-line portal for ticket purchases, Hop In has contracted Community Care Northumberland to provide bus services within Northumberland, while Eastern Charters will deliver the Durham route to take passengers directly to the Oshawa GO and back again to Northumberland.

Rider Credits (tickets) must be purchased in advance to use the Commuter Connect service, as they are not available at the point of pick-up. This can be done in two ways.

· Online through CommuterConnect.ca: Using the on-line portal, passengers can buy Rider Credits for boarding the buses.

· In person: At Community Care Northumberalnd locations in Cobourg (1158 Division St.), Campbellford (174 Oliver Rd.) and Brighton (46 Prince Edward St.).

Rates for one-way travel within Northumberland are $3 (same community) or $9 (between communities). Charged separately, the cost for one-way travel between Northumberland and the Oshawa GO is $13.

Developing the infrastructure to strengthen connections among local communities – along with neighbouring regional transit systems – is a key priority identified in Northumberland County’s Transportation Master Plan. The Commuter Connect service has been designed to address this priority, enhancing local transportation networks and increasing flexibility and choice for Northumberland commuters.

In the announcement, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said it is the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history.

“The Government of Ontario is fighting to get Ontarians where they want, when they want. In partnership with Northumberland County, we’re improving transport across our community and providing residents with more options to connect to the GO network for the first time ever,” Piccini said.