Bus riders who take Brampton Transit routes north of the city to Caledon will soon be able to call for an on-demand pick-up through a new pilot project.
The 15-month trial will see three Brampton Transit routes 81, 25 and 41 servicing Bolton, Mayfield West and Caledon East replaced with on-demand electric micro-buses.
The buses will be operated by Argo Transit, letting riders request rides through a smartphone app and travel directly to their desired destination. Argo is already available in some areas of Brampton, as well as Brantford.
Brampton Transit routes 18 and 30 to Caledon are not expected to be impacted.
The project will cost some $4.61 million and is expected to launch in October, with $1.1 million coming from the Provincial Gas Tax Reserve and $3.51 million borrowed from the town’s Capital Asset Replacement Fund, according to a report.
The town says the existing fixed-route services on routes 81, 25 and 41 have “limited frequency and coverage, resulting in service gaps, and they do not currently connect communities nor do they serve Caledon East.”
Argo Transit services will operate seven days per week to cover existing service times offered through Brampton Transit, and will “target to reduce median wait times to 20-minutes while ensuring 100 (per cent) trip fulfillment,” the report reads.
Argo rides cost the same as a regular Brampton Transit trip. Fare payments on Argo vehicles can be made with a Presto card, while cash and paper tickets will not be accepted. All other forms of Brampton Transit fares are valid, including transfers.
The company signed a $10.9 million deal with the City of Brampton to operate through to late 2026.
For more information on Argo or to download the app, visit www.rideargo.com.
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