Middlesex County Connect has upgraded its inter-community bus service, with a comprehensive suite of improvements that took effect on Monday. The enhanced service, which connects London with Sarnia, St. Thomas, Lucan, and Dorchester, has been redesigned based on extensive rider feedback, detailed ridership data, and a thorough third-party assessment. The transit system, launched in 2020 and operating with London as its central hub, has seen substantial growth in ridership, particularly over the last three years. “We take the ridership data that we’ve seen over the past year, as well as emails or phone call suggestions we get from riders who will say, ‘Maybe consider this stop, or this route,’” explained Demetri Makrakos, Community Transportation project manager. He said the direct rider input, coupled with a third-party assessment completed in July 2025, has been instrumental in shaping the strategic route changes. Key upgrades include a system-wide increase of approximately 9.4 per cent, adding 1,124 service hours annually. The improvements introduce a total of nine new stop locations across the four routes, while nine stops have been removed or relocated to streamline services. Notable additions include new stops at Victoria Hospital on Base Line Road East and the St. Thomas Fanshawe College campus for Route 3. For Route 4, new stops have been added in the west end of London, at Woodward and Oxford near Cherryhill Village Mall. The rationale was to provide more convenient connections to city transit and areas near Western University. “That was something that we had heard from riders, that they liked somewhere in the west end,” Makrakos noted. New stops are also strategically placed to align with academic schedules, such as ensuring arrival at Fanshawe College by 7:45 a.m. for students. Route 4 will also see an increase to three round trips on weekends, making weekday and weekend schedules identical, and will integrate credit/debit payment options and the Blaise App for added convenience. Ridership has surged, climbing from approximately 3,848 in 2023 to over 14,237 in 2025 for Routes 1-3. With the addition of Route 4, projections estimate around 17,000 riders annually for 2026. “Between these changes and ramping up marketing, we expect to see increased ridership,” Makrakos stated. Affordability remains a cornerstone of the service. One-way short routes will continue to cost $5, while the longer route to Sarnia will remain $20 one-way. A monthly pass is also in development, expected to be priced around $120. The service operates with a total budget of approximately $6.8 million from April 2025 to March 2030. This is funded through a 50/50 split between the provincial Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF) and Middlesex County, along with its municipal transit partners – the City of London, the City of Sarnia, and the City of St. Thomas. Municipal partners each contribute around $100,000 annually, with the goal of increasing fare revenue recovery, currently at 15-20 per cent. Provincial funding ensures the Middlesex County Connect service will continue through 2030. Thomas Keck, who commutes from St. Thomas to London multiple times a week for work and recreation, underscored the value of accessible public transit. “Very important. It’s $30 one way in an Uber; $75 in a cab,” he commented, highlighting the significant cost savings offered by the service. Makrakos noted that the provincial funding has been a “driving force” for these improvements, enabling expanded service hours and new stop locations. The service also integrates with transit hubs in partner cities, facilitating smoother transfers for riders.
