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County of Simcoe’s LINX Transit sees increase in ridership year over year

May 22, 2025   ·   0 Comments

BY BRIAN LOCKHART

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

A report released by the County of Simcoe shows that LINX Transit ridership continued to grow in 2024, with a 12.32 per cent increase in conventional transit ridership and a 25 per cent increase in specialized transit use.

The report states that while operational challenges persisted, key initiatives and performance indicators continue to be maintained.

In total, there were 295,340 riders on conventional LINX transit routes in 2024.

In July 2024, the County applied for Baseline Transit Funding from the Government of Canada to support ongoing transit infrastructure needs. The application was approved, securing $893,073 annually over 10 years, totalling $8,930,730 in dedicated funding.

These funds will be used to refurbish the existing fleet, ensuring that buses remain in a state of good repair and meet industry standards for safety and performance. The refurbishment program will include engine and transmission overhauls, structural repairs, interior upgrades and accessibility.

Investing in fleet rehabilitation enhances service reliability, safety, and operational efficiency while reducing the environmental impact by maximizing existing resources, ensuring that rural and regional transit services remain dependable and cost-effective.

The current conventional LINX transit service operates along six corridors: 

Route 1 – Barrie – Springwater – Tay – Tiny – Midland – Penetanguishene. 

Route 2 – Barrie – Essa – Clearview – Wasaga Beach. 

Route 3 – Barrie – Oro-Medonte – Orillia. 

Route 4 – Wasaga Beach – Collingwood. 

Route 5 – Bradford West Gwillimbury – New Tecumseth. 

Route 6 – Midland – Tay – Severn – Oro-Medonte-Orillia.

The most heavily used route was Collingwood to Wasaga Beach with a total ridership of 85,924.

The Alliston to Bradford route had 23,775 riders.

Specialized transit services saw a 25 per cent increase over 2023, indicating a growing demand for LINX Plus and its ability to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in our community. The total ridership was 2,141, with an 18 per cent increase in applications.

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