From left to right: Paul Smith, Director of Career Services and Work-Integrated Learning at Loyalist College, Brighton Deputy Mayor Laura Vink, Mike Hewitt of the Quinte Economic Development Commission, Belleville Councillor Chris Malette, David Joyce joining on behalf of MPP Todd Smith, Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson, Hastings County CAO Jim Pine, Belleville Councillor Bill Sandison, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, Quinte Transit Executive Director Shelly Ackers and board members, and Paul Buck who is the manager of Transit Operations for the City of Belleville. (Photo: by Lindsey Harren)
A regional transit system will now be connecting all four local municipalities in the Quinte region.
Quinte Transit, formally known as Quinte Access, officially unveiled their latest route at their offices in Trenton this week. The kick start of their new adventure comes as all levels of government announced financial support last year. The new route unveiled today is the last big piece of the regional transit puzzle for the area.
Quinte Transit currently is running buses from Brighton to Trenton, and Frankford to Trenton, three days a week. The route running from Prince Edward County to Belleville is going five days a week.
“As our region continues to grow, it is important that all residents have access to safe and affordable transportation. Connecting Quinte West residents to Loyalist College has been a priority for a while, and it is very exciting to see it up and running,” said Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison.
The Quinte West to Belleville route will start on Monday, August 9. Quinte Transit will have nine stops in the Quinte West community. The buses will then travel to Loyalist College and the downtown bus terminal, to allow passengers to transfer as needed. They will be able to track where their ride is in real time and Quinte Transit plans to launch a regional transit pass.
The schedule will be on Quinte Transit’s Facebook page. The first bus will get rolling to the Belleville Terminal to assist those who need to be at the Belleville Industrial Park for a 6 am or 7 am shift. After that, the buses will travel to Loyalist for those wishing to transfer. Quinte Transit plans to operate nine runs in a day, with the last evening run being an on-demand service to start so staff can get the uptake up.
“There should be a lot of options. We do have our other service that still operates completing – nothing has changed on our door-to-door. We do have some on demand options if things don’t quite work to start. Until we get handle on where people going and what times, they can always call us as we can always try and see what we can help them with,” said Shelly Ackers, Executive Director of Quinte Transit.
Quinte Transit is looking at Loyalist College as a hub for the route as they will by trying to maintain a half an hour turn around time.
Ackers noted in her speech this week that her team continues to talk to the College about the transit platform and stop area that is already in place outside of the Kente Building. She said that the College has an extra concrete pad already poured beside the existing bus shelter on the property. Ackers noted that the College has said they would possibly be willing to look into seeing if another shelter can be added.
For more info, visit quintetransit.ca.
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