Amherstburg residents will be able to take a bus to and from Windsor beginning on September 6, just in time for classes at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor, as part of a two-year pilot project with Transit Windsor.
I was happy to support this transit initiative during my first-term on Council and will promote it if re-elected and do everything I can to make the pilot project a success. A regional transit system will provide Amherstburg residents opportunities for schooling and employment and another option for travel to Windsor for appointments.
The Amherstburg bus will be known as Route 605. It will travel along Sandwich Street for the most part but goes along Texas Road and through the Kingsbridge subdivision and includes a one-way loop out of Town down Simcoe, Fryer and Alma Streets, passing by North Star High School and the Community Hub.
The bus will operate three times per day, seven days per week, year-round. The bus leaves Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Terminal in west Windsor at 6 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. and then turns around at Lowes Sideroad and Dalhousie Street at 6:41 a.m., 2:11 p.m. and 6:41 p.m. All of the buses are accessible and feature a bike rack.
The cost for each trip is $4.75, but beginning Wednesday residents can purchase reloadable Smart Cards at Town Hall for $1 so they don’t need exact change each trip and to enjoy a bit of a volume discount.
A 5-Ride Bus pass is $16 for youth aged 13 to 19 and for adults over 60 and it costs $20 for adults between 20 to 59. Kids under 12 ride for free when accompanied by a person paying full fare.
A 15-day unlimited use pass costs 39 for youth and seniors and $77 for the adult group. A 30-day unlimited use pass costs $77 for youth and seniors and $152 for the adult group. Children under 12 still ride for free when accompanied by a person paying full fare.
Any fares collected in Amherstburg will flow to the Town and fares collected outside of Amherstburg will flow to the City of Windsor. In addition to the fare revenue, the Town will be able to apply for transit grants and will also be eligible for gas tax dollars, which can be used to offset the costs.
I’m excited to launch this pilot project and link our residents up to a regional transit system and all the opportunities it provides. I don’t take the bus much anymore but it was a lifeline in my younger years, allowing me to pursue advanced schooling and work opportunities, and it will likewise open doors for Amherstburg residents, especially our youth.
“The need for a public transit service in the Town has long been a request from the residents and has garnered support from many local community groups,” said a Council report.
“Public transportation contributes to both the economical and physical health of individuals. Such a system brings financial benefits to communities and is a key component of a healthy business ecosystem by increasing mobility options for both residents who are job commuters, students who are pursuing educational opportunities and customers who wish to visit Amherstburg for a day trip opportunity.”
Learn more on the Town’s transit page!
Check out Route 605's stops and times!
Once you get to the depot in West Windsor, where can a transfer take you? Learn more about the other routes!