Media Release

Town of Huntsville Preparing to Roll Out Transit Expansion, Optimization and Branding

(Huntsville, ON) – The Town is excited to share that a new and improved Huntsville Transit service will be launching on October 1, making it easier and more convenient for residents to get around town with expanded routes, more stops, the addition of two buses, extended hours and more.   

Improvements and enhancements to Huntsville’s transit services as of October 1 will include:  

  • Fleet expansion – we’ve purchased two new buses. One will be for regular transit and one for on-demand service.  
  • Regular transit routes will be split into east and west loops, and both buses will run simultaneously. This will shorten the full route cycle to one hour, reduce wait times, and increase reliability for users.  

  • The addition of a second bus for on-demand service will prioritize accessibility but still be available to the general public.  

  • New stops have been added for broader coverage and to include more popular destinations and improve passenger accessibility and safety. There are also changes to some current stops.
     
    New stops:
        • Brookside Crossing/Chaffey Township Road
        • Campus Trail/Earls Road
        • Chaffey Hall
        • Cann Street
        • Riverside Church
        • Community Living Huntsville
        • Main Street West - Ontario Northland bus stop

    Existing stops that have been removed or modified:

        • Florence Street/Lorne Street moved to Florence Street/Centre Street
        • Town Hall (removed)
        • Cann Street/Chaffey Township Road (removed)
        • Lakewood Park (removed)
        • Pine Glen School (removed)
        • McCulley Robertson Recreation Park (removed)
        • Glen Cliffe (removed)  
  • We’ve expanded hours for regular transit and added on-demand service on Saturdays. As an added benefit, riders will now be able to schedule their on-demand requests for same day pick up.  

  • Regular transit: Weekdays: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays: 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  

  • On-demand transit will now be available on Saturdays in addition to the current schedule, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.   

  • Coming soon! Automated announcement systems will be installed to advise riders of upcoming stops which will improve accessibility and awareness.  

In addition to these important service improvements, the public will see a new look for our transit fleet! We’re introducing a new brand for Huntsville Transit including a formal logo that will be updated on the buses, bus stop signage, maps, and brochures. This will make Huntsville Transit an easily recognizable public transit system and bring consistency and improved customer experience.  

Under the pillar of Balanced Growth, these changes support the Town’s strategic plan objectives of identifying opportunities to improve Huntsville’s transit system as well as supporting the creation of more active transportation infrastructure to foster safe, car-free mobility.  

“Over the last several years we have seen ridership numbers continue to increase in Huntsville, providing us with a need, and an opportunity to improve transit services for the community,” says Jordan Schmidt, Director of Operations for the Town of Huntsville. “These service improvements mean a more efficient transit system for the community, address the changing and growing needs of current users and continue to attract more riders. This launch is also an important milestone in working towards a more accessible and greener Huntsville.”  

In July 2025 Town staff presented the Huntsville Transit Expansion and Optimization Plan to Council, outlining opportunities to enhance transit services through route optimization, fleet expansion, increased service levels, and associated capital and operating investments. Phase 1 of the plan was approved including the purchase of two additional transit buses and service enhancements intended to improve mobility and accessibility throughout the community.  

Capital and Operational Costs of the Expansion  

The two new buses were purchased with 67% of the cost funded through grants, and the remainder funded through the Transit Reserve and Town Capital Replacement Reserve.   

Any transit stop infrastructure upgrades will be costed, and funding phased through future transit capital forecasts and capital budgets, after being brought forward for Council's consideration.  

The operational impact of implementing expanded hours, stop modifications, updated signage, and expanding the transit fleet is forecasted to be approximately $142,000 for 2026 and is being funded through the Transit Reserve and Working Funds Reserve.  

The estimated 2027 net levy impact is approximately $368,000 which will be further refined as grant allocations are confirmed and updated ridership data is obtained.  

Important notes 

Updated route maps and additional information will be available to riders on buses in advance of the changes taking effect October 1.   

Transit stop signs will be installed prior to October 1 and updated with new signage displaying route maps and schedules in the coming weeks. Until then, the public are asked to view the updated stop locations, times and map on our website at huntsville.ca/transit.  

Printed copies of the maps are available at Customer Service at Town Hall, the Canada Summit Centre and the Huntsville Public Library.