By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Next week’s Cobourg council meeting agenda will include a recommendation from council’s Public Works, Planning and Development Standing Committee will include a report to retain and potentially expand the fixed-route transit service.
The town’s transit service shifted from having several fixed routes to an on-demand model during the pandemic. The return of a single fixed-route bus in addition to on-demand service was instituted as a pilot project last year. With funding already included in the town’s 2025 operating budget, the report from Transportation Supervisor Renee Champagne asked council to extend the fixed-route beyond the Sept. 3 expiration of the pilot project until Dec. 31.
The fixed-route service, which has 35 stops covering high-demand and popular destinations throughout the town, launched Sept. 3, 2024, to complement the existing on-demand system.
Enhancements proposed for the 2026 budget (that would take effect Jan. 1) include extending its hours of operation (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
As for the on-demand service, the report recommended adding a second driver in the evening at an estimated annual cost of $67,000, as well as a system upgrade that will involve a $1,050 implementation fee and an annual licensing fee of $5,890.50.
The motion to effect these recommendations is on the agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting on June 25.
