New PC Connect transit service launching in November

Perth County and the City of Stratford are excited to announce that the Perth County Connect (PC Connect) community transportation bus service will begin operating on November 16, 2020. To mark the exciting launch, all fares for the service will be 50% off until January 1, 2021.

To ride PC Connect, simply call 1-888-465-0783 to book your trip, and arrive at your stop 5 minutes before pick-up with the exact change required for your fare.

“We are grateful for the opportunity presented by the MTO to provide our residents with much needed access to affordable transportation. The service is going to be a great asset to our rural County and our residents, and we look forward to getting it on the road.” said Warden Aitcheson. “I encourage everyone to try the PC Connect responsibly, and to follow public health regulations by practicing safe hand and respiratory etiquette at all times.”

“The City of Stratford looks forward to launching this vital and much-needed service that will provide connectivity for our residents and improve economic prosperity and skilled labour recruitment throughout our region,” said Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson.

PC Connect will offer five fixed routes that will be in operation from Monday to Saturday, 8 hours per day on each route. The routes have been designed to provide residents with convenient and reliable access to employment, grocery stores, recreational activities, medical appointments and leisure. PC Connect links Perth County and surrounding areas including Stratford, St. Marys, Kitchener/Waterloo and London.

Route A (Perth County North): Stratford, Gads Hill, Brunner, Milverton, Newton, Millbank, Listowel, Atwood, Monkton, Mitchell, Stratford.
Route B (Perth County South): Stratford, St. Pauls, St.Marys, Kirkton, Mitchell, Sebringville, Stratford
Route 1: Kitchener-Waterloo to Listowel
Route 2: Kitchener-Waterloo to St. Marys via Stratford
Route 3: London to Stratford via St. Marys (coming soon!)

Standard fares for PC Connect Route A and B are $6/ride for adults, and $5/ride for seniors and students. Routes 1, 2, and 3 will be available for $12/ride for adults, and $10/ride for seniors and students. Exact change will be required when boarding the bus.

Please note that the first six weeks of the service are considered to be a “soft launch,” with hours adjusted and stops reduced on Routes 1, 2, and 3 to better accommodate running times and holiday retail shopping. Schedules will be adjusted in early 2021 to support employees commuting to and from work, with additional stops added in the Region of Waterloo at the GO Terminal and University of Waterloo. The long-distance route launch will also be staggered, with Routes 1 and 2 launching on 16 November and Route 3 to London launching in the coming weeks. More stops will be added in the new year.

PC Connect will be serviced by Voyago, Ontario’s leading provider of accessible transportation. Voyago has been operating responsibly throughout the pandemic by enforcing a series of safety and sanitizing precautions recommended by the Ministry of Health. Seating on the PC Connect will be reduced by 50% in order to allow for safe social distancing, and the use of a face covering on board will be mandatory for all able passengers.

This service is being coordinated through a partnership between Perth County, Stratford, St. Marys and North Perth, and has been made possible by the Government of Ontario. The project will be funded through the Community Transportation Grant Project until March 31, 2023.

For more information and regular updates on the PC Connect, please visit the PC Connect webpage and follow Perth County and the City of Stratford on social media.

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Media Contact:
Maggie Martin, Transit Project Coordinator
mmartin@perthcounty.ca
519-301-3582

Stephanie Potter, Policy and Research Associate
spotter@stratford.ca
519-271-0250 x253