The Ontario government is doubling its support for the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF), increasing it from $5 million to $10 million annually over the next three years.
The government says the 30 million dollar investment, announced by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria at a news conference in London this (Wed) morning, will help rural and underserved communities build safe and reliable transit services, connecting more people to jobs and health care.
Middlesex County Warden Sue Clarke says the funding is essential to sustaining and expanding Middlesex County Connect, our inter-community transit service which provided more than 14-thousand trips last year, up from 11-thousand in 2024.
The OTIF supports the start-up and expansion of transit projects like new bus services, on-demand rideshare services and door-to-door transportation. The program is helping municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit organizations deliver reliable transportation services across the province, particularly in rural communities.
Eligible applicants can apply on an ongoing basis for time-limited funding of up to five years to support transit projects that address transportation gaps in unserved or underserved communities across Ontario.
—-
QUOTES
“We see the importance of these commitments first-hand. This funding is essential to sustaining and expanding Middlesex County Connect, our inter-community transit service. I’m happy to share that last year, the service provided more than 14,000 trips, up from 11,000 in 2024. Building on this success, we introduced another route at the start of this year. For our residents, this means greater access. For our employers, it means better labour mobility. And for our communities, it means growth that is connected, coordinated, and sustainable.”
– Susan Clarke
Mayor of Adelaide Metcalfe and Warden of Middlesex County
“I’ve seen firsthand how investments through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund are making a meaningful difference for people in our rural communities. Expanding access to reliable transportation helps residents get to work, attend appointments, and stay connected to the services they depend on. I’m pleased to see our government doubling this funding, building on that success and ensuring even more communities can benefit from safe, dependable transit options.”
– Steve Pinsonneault
MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
“Small towns and rural communities throughout Ontario depend on consistent and reliable transit for people to get to work, make it to a doctor’s appointment or to visit family. As more people choose to call rural Ontario home, this targeted investment is important so people in need of transit options can have confidence in their mobility choices.”
– Lisa Thompson
Minister of Rural Affairs
