Middlesex County Council received an important update Tuesday on the future of its regional bus service, Middlesex County Connect. Launched in 2020 and operated by Voyago, the service links London with Woodstock, St. Thomas, Lucan, and several communities in between. According to a new staff report, ridership has grown significantly since the pandemic, climbing from just 1,445 trips in 2022 to a projected 15,000 trips in 2025. While demand is rising, fare revenue still falls far short of covering operating costs.
The service is currently funded through a provincial grant set to expire at the end of August 2025. Although the County has received in-principle approval for $3.4 million in new provincial funding—enough to support operations for five more years—that funding only covers half of the projected costs through 2030.
To bridge the gap, the County is proposing a cost-sharing model that would require at least five of the participating municipalities to collectively contribute $422,000 over five years. Without these contributions, continued operation of the service beyond August is at risk.
The report also noted that Middlesex County is pursuing a portion of the province’s gas tax revenue, typically designated for public transit, to help stabilize long-term funding.
A motion included in the report called on County Council to finalize a funding agreement and secure commitments from municipal partners to ensure service continuity through 2030, which was approved unanimously.
Current Routes:
Route 1: Lucan – Ilderton – Arva – London
Route 2: Woodstock – Ingersoll – Putnam – Dorchester – London
Route 3: Dorchester – London – St. Thomas – Southwold
A fourth route, currently operated independently by the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, connects London with Komoka, Mt. Brydges, Strathroy, and Sarnia. It would be integrated into Middlesex County Connect if the new funding agreement is approved.
Written by: C. Soares