Transit Study
The City of Sault Ste. Marie has launched a Transit Optimization Study to evaluate the current route design and other services provided by Sault Ste. Marie Transit. The study will focus on identifying community priorities, optimizing service efficiency, and ensuring that public transit better meets the evolving needs of the community.
An information session will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, 99 Foster Drive—Russ Ramsay Room (Level 3). The session will be a drop-in format, with a formal presentation at 5:30 p.m.
The study includes:
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Reviewing the City's transit service design.
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Assessing the efficiency of bus routes and the on-demand system while considering shifting ridership trends.
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Exploring the potential relocation of the Dennis Street terminal and impacts.
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Recommending improvements to enhance service while maintaining safe and efficient transit for the community.
Input is welcome from both transit users and non-users to ensure the transit system is aligned with the City’s priorities and future needs.
Project Timeline:
Phase 1: November 2024 - December 2024
Project initiation and data collection
Phase 2: December 2024 - April 2025
Review of policy, demographics, transit operations, benchmarking, barriers and community engagement. Public Information Session #1
Phase 3: April 2025 - July 2025
Update transit standards, explore Downtown terminal relocation, recommend route designs consider service area expansion. Public Information Session #2
Phase 4: June 2025 - July 2025
Evaluate fleet, staffing, costs, and fare structure, assess specialized transit, and recommend policy and service improvements.
Phase 5: July 2025 - August 2025
Draft Five-Year Transit Optimization Plan and a Ten-Year High Level Transit Management Plan.
This project is made possible through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Fund (ICIP) - Transit Stream.