The towns of Midland and Penetanguishene have determined that they will not proceed with the proposed microtransit route changes at this time. “Council’s goal has always been to ensure transit remains reliable, responsive, and sustainable,” said Midland’s Mayor Bill Gordon. “Based on the information gathered through due diligence, we determined that proceeding at this time would not be in the best interests of our communities. While disappointing, it is important that any future transit model meets the needs of our communities and delivers value for taxpayers,” Gordon said. In March 2026, the towns’ councils approved the implementation of a hybrid transit model combining a traditional fixed route with on-demand microtransit service. The approval followed a joint Request for Proposals process undertaken by the two municipalities. Staff from both municipalities conducted extensive due diligence reviews to assess operational, service, financial and workforce considerations. Through that review, staff identified several concerns that could not be satisfactorily be resolved. “The key question throughout the review was whether the proposed model could be implemented without negatively affecting service levels or introducing additional risks to the municipalities, and staff were ultimately unable to obtain that assurance,” said Mitch Sobil, Midland’s executive director of infrastructure management. “Council’s goal has always been to ensure transit remains reliable, responsive, and sustainable,” said Midland Mayor Bill Gordon. “Based on the information gathered through due diligence, we determined that proceeding at this time would not be in the best interests of our communities. While disappointing, it is important that any future transit model meets the needs of our communities and delivers value for taxpayers.” The existing Mid-Pen Transit service will continue to operate without interruption, and residents can expect no changes to current routes, schedules, fares, or service levels. Midland and Penetanguishene remain committed to providing reliable public transit services and will continue to evaluate opportunities to improve mobility while ensuring service, financial, and operational objectives can be achieved. “This decision reflects the importance of carefully evaluating major service changes before implementation,” said Penetanguishene Mayor Doug Rawson. “We remain committed to making informed and responsible decisions that protect service quality, support transit users, and deliver value for taxpayers.”
