An intercity bus line is making an attempt to take off in Bruce and Huron County, however it’s dealing with early speedbumps.
OnexBus launched a Port-Elgin to London line in mid-October which has been working on weekends.
Debi Wilson, Liaison Officer, says there’s been anticipated challenges attracting riders to the brand new line, however they’ve additionally had points attracting native workers.
“That is sort of one in all our setbacks proper now I’d say, is that we simply do not have drivers in that space,” she stated. “That’s truly a giant situation, an absence of drivers… I’ve put an advert out and I’ve not gotten one single resume for a job applicant but.”
Wilson says the necessity to have drivers from Port Elgin is a part of the corporate’s push to supply extra choices transferring ahead. The bus presently runs from London to Port Elgin Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with return journeys the next mornings.
A part of their outreach is a web-based questionnaire, as they attempt to discover what locals need for a mid-week choice.
“I actually wish to get a weekday run, so I put that survey out to attempt to discover out what days individuals have been seeking to journey, and I used to be shocked as a result of most of them have been seeking to journey on the weekends, which is what we’re doing,” she stated. “However I used to be taking a look at Tuesday and Wednesday, Wednesday being a full day, the place we go from London and return.”
Wilson expects ridership will choose up as phrase spreads and the vacations close to, however they nonetheless are in search of funding choices to make it sustainable.
There may be cash out there by the Ontario Academics Insurance coverage Plan (OTIP), however OnexBus will want municipal assist to use.
“Sadly they didn’t open up OTIP to the impartial carriers just like the bus corporations ourselves,” stated Wilson. We now have to work by the municipalities to attempt to get funding if that is even potential. In order that’s one thing that we’re trying into so then it isn’t a burden on any of the municipalities or the counties, it is funded by the federal government.”
Wilson says there was communication with Bruce County about making use of however there hasn’t been something tabled.
OnexBus can be trying so as to add extra flagged stops in Bruce County, eyeing areas like Tiverton and Amberley.
To participate of their passenger survey, go to right here.
