Four-county transit plan won't return until after election

A proposed transit network linking Bruce, Grey, Dufferin and Wellington counties won't come back to Bruce County council until early 2027, after the Oct. 26 municipal election. Council got its first look at the draft study on Oct. 1.

Council received the draft Bruce-Dufferin-Grey-Wellington Unified Regional Transit Study, according to the county's meeting highlights. It proposes "a unified system that would connect communities through fixed-route and on-demand transit services, supported by a shared governance model and integrated fare structure," the county said. Saugeen Mobility (SMART) is a study partner.

Council didn't vote on it. Staff will bring recommendations "in early 2027," the county said.

The Owen Sound Current reported that the network would centre on a bus terminal in Owen Sound, and that every route passes through Grey County. Several Bruce councillors told council the fixed routes wouldn't serve their municipalities, the Current reported.

At the same meeting, council reviewed the Bruce County Housing and Homelessness Plan 2026-2036, a 10-year framework required under Ontario's Housing Services Act. Council directed staff to amend the plan before sending it to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review, the county said. The Current reported that the plan calls for 4,040 new homes by 2036, including at least 460 community housing units, and that the change adds language on working with lower-tier municipalities.

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