New $4.5M on-demand bus service coming north of Brampton

Service for on-demand electric buses already running in parts of Brampton will be coming to communities north of the city later this year.

The Town of Caledon has partnered with Argo Corporation on a 15-month pilot project that will bring the company’s on-demand transit service to Caledon East, Bolton, the Mayfield West and Southfields areas.

Like a combination of a ride share app and public transit, Argo uses a smartphone app to let users request rides and travel directly to their desired destination.

The service is expected to launch in the fall for a 15-month pilot project at a cost of $4.5 million, with an option to extend for an additional year, the company says.

“The system is expected to serve Caledon East, Bolton and Mayfield West/Southfields, with connections to GO Transit, Brampton Transit and York Region Transit,” Argo said in a release.

The service picks riders up from their door for point-to-point trips or connections to Brampton Transit and GO Transit lines through an on-demand, fully electric service integrated with Ontario’s PRESTO fare system.

Argo is already available in some areas of Brampton as well as Brantford, and the new service was initially going to replace a trio of Brampton Transit routes when the program rolls out – routes 81, 25 and 41 servicing Bolton, Mayfield West and Caledon East. Those bus lines will stay up and running until the end of 2026, the town says.

READ MORE: Bus routes spared temporarily under new Brampton-to-Caledon on-demand bus program

In a report, the town said existing fixed-route services on routes 81, 25 and 41 have “limited frequency and coverage, resulting in service gaps, and they do not currently connect communities nor do they serve Caledon East.”

Argo Transit services will operate seven days per week to cover existing service times offered through Brampton Transit, and will “target to reduce median wait times to 20-minutes while ensuring 100 (per cent) trip fulfillment,” the report reads.

Argo rides cost the same as a regular Brampton Transit trip. Fare payments on Argo vehicles can be made with a Presto card, while cash and paper tickets will not be accepted. All other forms of Brampton Transit fares are valid, including transfers.

“The Caledon agreement expands Argo’s Smart Routing infrastructure and service to a third municipality, enabling better connectivity for riders and enhanced efficiency across the Argo network,” CEO & co-founder of Argo Praveen Arichandran said in a release.

For more information on Argo or to download the app, visit www.rideargo.com.