Get On Board: A New Direction for Greater Sudbury Transit

The City of Greater Sudbury is one step closer to a transformation that will create a more user-friendly local public transit system. The Greater Sudbury Transit Action Plan: Better Routes. Better Schedules. Better Service received Council approval on February 12.

 “The Transit Action Plan will significantly improve how we deliver public transit service today and in the future,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “The plan culminates two years of hard work by our transit staff, extensive public involvement and studies of best practices across the country. The result will create a service that meets the needs of our residents, while taking the geography of our community into consideration.”

The new transit route network will launch in late August, 2019. As part of planned improvements, residents are invited to submit feedback on the best way to receive information about routes, schedules, fares and other services.

Residents are encouraged to participate in a survey available online at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca or on paper at Greater Sudbury Public Libraries/Citizen Service Centres and the Downtown Transit Centre. Feedback will be accepted until end of day on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

The first phase of the Greater Sudbury Transit Action Plan began in June 2017 with ideas and feedback gathered through public open houses, workshops and surveys. Draft recommendations were presented to residents for a second round of feedback in February, 2018. Residents will have further opportunity to preview and fine-tune new routes and services before the August launch.

The Greater Sudbury Transit Action Plan: Better Routes. Better Schedules. Better Service includes new fare incentives that will take effect July 1, 2019. Transfers will remain in effect for 90 minutes and will be accepted on any route. The cost of monthly passes for adults and students will be reduced, and discounts on monthly passes for seniors will remain.

Two new pilot programs will also be introduced: children under 12 will ride free when accompanied by an adult with a monthly pass and photo identification will no longer be required when using a monthly pass, meaning passes can be shared.

As part of better routes and schedules taking effect in late August, passengers will see additional early morning service on weekdays and improved service on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Three new programs will be funded up to a maximum of $55,000 under the Provincial Gas Tax program effective immediately: travel training for groups unfamiliar with the transit system, free transportation to group destinations for not-for-profit organizations and school boards, and subsidized transit to community events.

The complete Greater Sudbury Transit Action Plan: Better Routes. Better Schedules. Better Service is available at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca. This project is made possible by the Canada-Ontario Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). 

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