St. Thomas-London transit connection big news for both cities, says advocate

A newly announced and highly anticipated bus route between St. Thomas and London is being praised as a boon for the region.

Officials in Middlesex County have made a deal to expand Middlesex County Connect  into St. Thomas, fulfilling a need that's been on the minds of area politicians for over a decade. The inter-community transit service already runs two lines connecting London to rural communities to its north and east. 

"It's amazing news for the region as a whole," said Kelly Elliott, a former Thames Centre councillor who was involved in launching Middlesex County Connect in 2020.

"The mayors of London and St. Thomas, over the past 10 years, have been talking about putting a bus route together to connect the two cities and now it's Middlesex County that's stepping in to do that."

The new upcoming pilot project was briefly announced by St. Thomas mayor Joe Preston at the end of Monday's council meeting, during which he touted the effect the route will have in allowing St. Thomas to be "connected to the outside again."

With considerable industrialization in the area surrounding St. Thomas, including the Amazon fulfilment centre in Southwold, Ont., and the upcoming Volkswagen electric vehicle battery factory, the role the route will play in connecting employees with work can't be overstated, Elliott said.

That's part of why the benefits aren't just about bringing people out of St. Thomas, she added.

 "There are lots of jobs and lots of industries in both in Elgin County and St. Thomas, as well as in Thames Centre and Middlesex County, so it's connecting that employment not just for people to get into the city, but outside the city."

The route will also allow people to step out of their vehicles, representing environmental and cost-saving bonuses as well, Elliott said.

Route details laid out

The new route, which is set to start on April 8, will start at the FlightExec Centre in Dorchester, passing through the Wilton Grove industrial Park and stopping at White Oaks Mall in London, according to Anum Maqsood, Middlesex County's community transportation project manager.

The route will then stop at Valleyview Home and St. Thomas's industrial area before reaching the St. Thomas Transit Hub, completing four round trips per day, Monday to Saturday, she said.

"This new route underscores our commitment to promoting connectivity and convenience, marking a significant milestone in our continuous efforts to improve regional connectivity and accessibility for our residents," Maqsood wrote in a statement to CBC News.

LISTEN | New bus route to connect St. Thomas and London

Afternoon Drive7:20New bus route to connect St. Thomas and London

It's been almost 10 years since the cities of St. Thomas and London were connected by public transit, but it's now slotted to happen again soon. Host Colin Butler talks about the announcement with Kelly Elliott, former deputy mayor of Thames Centre, who was involved in the creation of the Middlesex County Connect transit system. 

A one-way trip will cost $5, payable by cash, debit or credit, with free fare for children under six years of age, support people and veterans, she added.

It's not yet clear what the capacity of the bus on the route will be, however the service operates with minibuses on its existing routes.

The St. Thomas route, as well as the two already existing Middlesex County Connect routes, will be funded through the provincial Community Transportation Grant Program until March 31, 2025.

In the past, Maqsood told CBC News that she had concerns over the approaching deadline at which provincial funding will run out, pointing to increasing ridership as an essential piece of the puzzle in keeping Middlesex County Connect running past 2025.

She did not comment on whether revenue from the upcoming St. Thomas route was expected to be enough to carry the service as a whole past next March.