The Township, in partnership with Dillon Consulting Limited, is conducting a public transit feasibility study. Our goal is to assess the demand to expand on the existing public transit options currently in place.

Round 2 Public Engagement Survey

In this second round of public engagement, we want to make sure the proposed public transit service meets your needs. The proposals you’re reviewing show what the final transit network would look like after several years of implementation.

Your participation in this study is important. All responses will be collected and used by the project team to directly inform the project’s recommendations and outcome.

A few things before you get started!

This proposed transit network for Centre Wellington includes five bus routes:

  • Route 1A Elora to Salem, and Route 1B Elora to Gilkison, operating between the proposed terminal in Fergus and the north or south areas of Elora, respectively.
  • Route 2 Belsyde, operating between the proposed terminal in Fergus and Centre Wellington District High School, serving commercial areas along Highway 6 and the Centre Wellington Sportsplex.
  • Route 3 St. David to Farley, operating between the proposed terminal in Fergus and the Groves Memorial Hospital, serving commercial and residential areas in the north end of Fergus.
  • Route 4 Gartshore, operating between the proposed terminal in Fergus and the FreshCo/Walmart, serving residential and industrial areas in east Fergus.
  • Route 5 Scotland, operating between the proposed terminal in Fergus to McQueen Blvd and Highway 6 via future areas in South Fergus, serving Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Centre Wellington District High School, and Union Street.

  • Routes 1 (both branches), 2, and 3 would be the first routes implemented as part of this system. At launch, each branch of Route 1 would operate every 120 minutes, providing combined service every 60 minutes between the Grand River Raceway, downtown Elora, and the proposed terminal in Fergus. Routes 2 and 3 would operate every 60 minutes.
  • Routes 4 and 5 would be implemented in the 5-10 year timeframe.
  • As the system evolves, each route will be planned to operate every 30 minutes, with each branch of Route 1 operating every 60 minutes.
  • The fixed-route service would be integrated with the County’s existing on-demand service (Ride Well), which would accommodate trips to any areas outside of walking distance from the fixed route network.
  • The regional transit connection to Guelph from the proposed terminal in Fergus remains under study, in collaboration with the County of Wellington and other partner agencies. The Centre Wellington fixed-routes and on-demand services would connect to the regional service to Guelph at the proposed terminal in Fergus.



Why We're Doing This Study

Centre Wellington is a growing community, with the majority of that growth focused on the communities of Fergus and Elora. The needs of our residents are also changing. We have a growing senior population looking for more independence, young people that need access to jobs and activities, greater concerns over housing affordability, and more residents that need to travel to both local and regional destinations.

Strengthening our public transit network is an exciting opportunity to provide more choices for getting around. A new transit system could improve access to services, regional destinations, and employment while helping to reduce downtown congestion and parking issues. It also provides a cheaper, safe, and comfortable way for everyone to get around.

What We’re Building On

This project will build on transit services that already operate in our community. Multiple transit services currently operate through or within Centre Wellington include:

  • RIDE WELL (on-demand transit provided by the County of Wellington);
  • Guelph Owen Sound Transit (GOST, provided by Owen Sound);
  • The seasonal Elora and Fergus Downtown Shuttle, provided by the Township; and
  • Wellington Transportation Services provided by the Community Resource Centre.

Building on the work already underway to improve these services will help drive Centre Wellington’s transportation network in a sustainable, long-term direction.

Centre Wellington is also facing in-town public parking issues in downtown Elora and Fergus, made worse by the lack of alternatives to driving. The demand for additional public transit has been demonstrated within Fergus and Elora by the growth in the Downtown Shuttle and Wellington County’s RIDE WELL trips within Centre Wellington.

Project Scope
Investing in transit can help improve connectivity and access and reduce downtown parking concerns, providing both residents and visitors new options to safely, and affordably get around the Township.

This study, as approved by Township Council, will explore the following opportunities:

  • Local transit services complementing the existing RIDE WELL and Downtown Shuttle service in Elora and Fergus;
  • Enhancing regional connections to Guelph and Wellington North (Arthur and Mount Forest), and introducing new connections to cities such as Kitchener and Orangeville;
  • Better accessibility for residents with disabilities and seniors;
  • Accommodating population and tourism growth across the Township; and
  • Detailed costing, design, and implementation strategies for the recommended public transit services.

How You Can Have Your Say

This study will involve extensive public consultation to ensure a right-fit solution that meets our community’s diverse needs. Stay tuned for more details on ways you can get involved to help grow our township’s transportation network!

Past Engagement opportunities