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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>, as well as Brantford.<\/p>\n Brampton Transit routes 18 and 30 to Caledon are not expected to be impacted.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Capital Asset Replacement Fund, according to a report.<\/p>\n The town says the existing fixed-route services on routes 81, 25 and 41 have \u201climited frequency and coverage, resulting in service gaps, and they do not currently connect communities nor do they serve Caledon East.\u201d<\/p>\n Argo Transit services will operate seven days per week to cover existing service times offered through Brampton Transit, and will \u201ctarget to reduce median wait times to 20-minutes while ensuring 100 (per cent) trip fulfillment,\u201d the report reads.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The company signed a $10.9 million deal with the City of Brampton to operate through to late 2026.<\/p>\n For more information on Argo or to download the app, visit www.rideargo.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n