Brant Transit nearing capacity as ridership climbs and planning for future expansion begins

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Councillors question rider numbers, funding fairness as staff call for deeper data analysis and talks with Brantford

The County of Brant’s on-demand transit system continues to see steady growth, strong satisfaction ratings and increasing demand for travel between Brantford and Paris, according to an update presented to the Administration and Operations Committee last week. 

Director of Community Outreach Rodel Ramos, joined by representatives from Via Transportation, delivered the update. Via is currently completing year one of a multi-year transit contract.

Councillors praised the clarity of the presentation, with Councillor Steve Howes calling it “excellent” and “very clearly delivered.” Councillor John Peirce appreciated the detailed data. The discussion that followed offered a deeper look at ridership, costs, and how the service must evolve to meet future needs.

Howes noted that many residents still ask why the County does not run a direct Paris-to-Brantford bus route like the one that existed years ago. Drawing on his own past experience riding that bus “when it was always nearly empty,” he said the County must focus on a system that serves all communities, not just Paris.

I explain to them we are not the Town of Paris, we are the County of Brant, and we need a service that serves the County, he said.

Howes also highlighted that approximately $880,000 in taxpayer money supports Brant Transit each year, prompting questions about who is benefitting. “There are 300 unique riders who really appreciate the service and about 40,000 who don’t,” he said, asking whether the 44 per cent of ride origins in Brantford meant that many riders were non-County residents.

Ramos clarified the figures: “It’s closer to 1,000 unique riders a year. The report talks about a total of 962 unique riders for 2024, and about 916 so far this year.”

He added that the oft cited 44 per cent statistic refers to where trips begin, not where riders live. Because many riders use the service repeatedly, ride origins are not the same as unique rider residency. Ramos said this distinction is prompting staff to begin analyzing unmet demand and identifying whose transportation needs may not currently be served.

“This data gives us the stats and insights we need for deeper conversations with the City of Brantford about collaboration,” he said.

Brant Transit delivered 25,233 rides in 2024, an 11 per cent increase over the previous year, and is on pace to exceed 27,500 rides in 2025, surpassing the County’s Strategic Plan target. 

The service continues to perform strongly, maintaining a “met demand” rate of 90 per cent or higher since July 2024. Most trips involve cross-municipal travel, with 44 per cent starting in Brantford and heading into the County, 41 per cent going the opposite direction, and only 14 per cent occurring solely within the County. 

Rider satisfaction remains one of the system’s strongest indicators. Monthly ratings averaged 4.8 out of 5 over the past two years, with riders frequently praising drivers and ride comfort.

Via also reports continuous growth in new accounts, between 100 and 200 new users sign up monthly.

Via and County staff have implemented several innovations over the past year, such as:

Adjusting driver shifts to better match demand

Reducing no-shows and late cancellations

Introducing a waitlist to fill cancelled spots

Updating routing algorithms to navigate construction, including the Downtown Dig

Creating a caregiver portal for families and employers

These updates have improved efficiency substantially. Utilization increased from 1.4 trips per driver hour in early 2024 to nearly 2 trips per hour, outperforming comparable municipalities. 

New data from Via shows 57 per cent of riders use the service for employment, followed by health care at 24 per cent. Councillor John Bell questioned whether major employers could contribute financially toward transit, given the system’s role in workforce mobility.

Ramos said cost-sharing conversations have not occurred but staff have been working with employers to better coordinate ride schedules. “Shifts don’t always align across workplaces,” he said, noting that aligning shift times, particularly in areas like the Rest Acres Road business district, can make shared rides more efficient.

Bell urged transit staff to consider the County’s rapid industrial growth. “We are developing the south side of the 403 in a big way, and when Amazon employment begins you might want to consider that,” Bell said.

With ridership expanding and indicators showing strains on capacity, County staff are now preparing long-term recommendations for Council. That work includes exploring expanded on-demand capacity, additional or higher-capacity vehicles, potential future fixed routes, a more robust accessibility-focused transit model and deeper collaboration with Brantford

Ramos said gaining a clearer picture of riders, and non-riders who may be underserved, is key to planning. “We need to have deeper conversations with other municipalities,” he said, emphasizing that early talks with Brantford are already underway. 

The report notes that Brant Transit remains within its $1.14-million budget for 2025. Fare revenue and gas tax funding offset some costs, $101,119 in fare revenue and $280,774 in provincial gas tax funding were collected in 2024, with similar amounts expected for 2025. 

Council also debated a proposed amendment to change Brant Transit fare categories and potential fare increases. The amendment included a proposal to raise the senior fare from $3 to $5, while staff would review how any increase should apply to riders with disabilities. 

Mayor David Bailey opposed creating three categories, saying, “I think we need to stick to two. It’s not up to us to classify or pigeonhole disabilities.”

For regular riders, staff were directed to examine how other County service fees have increased over the past five years and apply a comparable adjustment to transit fares. The original proposal, put forward by Councillor David Miller, to increase the regular fare from $5 to $10 was set aside in favour of a more comprehensive review.

While the originally presented fares were approved for implementation on January 1, Council acknowledged those fees may change once the staff review is complete.