Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
MIDDLESEX COUNTY – County Council received an extensive update on the future of inter-community transit during its June 24 meeting, where consultants presented a comprehensive service assessment and recommendations for significant system enhancements.
The presentation, delivered by Matthew Lattavo of Left Turn Right Turn Ltd., outlined the findings of a six-month review of Middlesex County Connect and the Strathroy-Caradoc inter-community transit services. The review, funded through a federal grant, focused on route performance, ridership data, and service accessibility.
“This has been a very fast-paced and exciting effort, and we have worked closely with staff here at Middlesex County and partners from municipalities from across the county and beyond,” Lattavo said.
The proposed plan includes an optimized fixed-route network and a new county-wide on-demand transit system. The redesigned fixed network would integrate current services into five routes, all with stops within Middlesex County. A central transfer hub would be located at Fanshawe College’s London main campus, one of the most utilized stops in the current system.
Lattavo emphasized that the new plan aims for more efficiency and broader access. “Our recommendations fundamentally revolve around the integration of those two services,” he said, referring to the county and Strathroy-Caradoc systems.
The fixed-route service is proposed to operate seven days a week, with increased daily trips connecting Lucan, Saint Thomas, Woodstock, Strathroy-Caradoc, and other key communities.
To complement the network, the presentation proposed an on-demand service that would cover underserved areas and connect riders to hubs both inside and outside the county, such as Sarnia, Ingersoll, and Saint Thomas. “On-demand transit thankfully has enough flexibility… to see what that looks like, if the funding is available,” Lattavo noted.
The implementation would be phased over several years. Phase one focuses on route realignment and technology upgrades by mid-2026. Phase two introduces the on-demand service between late 2026 and the end of 2027. Phase three, beginning in 2028, will scale the system based on demand and funding.
Deputy CAO Cindy Howard confirmed that the entire county was considered in the review process and noted the growing complexity of providing regional transit. “We received over 500 responses to our public engagement… This is one of the most complex projects to work on,” she said.
Councillor Allan Mayhew raised questions about revenue projections, to which Lattavo responded that the assessment explored various funding options. “All of these different revenue pieces are going to be very tied to the different partnerships that you are able to build up,” he explained.
Council voted unanimously to receive the report for information, with further discussions on funding and implementation expected in the coming months. Warden Brian Ropp concluded, “I’m looking forward to seeing how the on-demand service will work.”
