Following significant improvements to Orillia’s transit system in recent years, riders will see a slight fare increase in 2021.
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, a cash fare to ride the bus in Orillia will increase by $0.10 from $2.60 to $2.70. There will also be price changes to bulk ticket fees (see attached Orillia Transit Key Facts Poster).
“The City has continued to invest significantly to modernize and improve our transit system. This year, we added 11 bicycle racks to the buses to encourage and promote active transportation, three new shelters, additional concrete pads at bus stops to help with winter maintenance and accessibility and will soon introduce a new Smart Pay system,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “As part of this continuous improvement, we are increasing fares slightly. Transit service is still subsidized to a large degree by the municipality, and the small increase to the transit user is still very competitive with other similar transit services.”
Scheduled to launch in 2021 is a Smart Pay Fare System that will allow riders to pay with a loadable smart card. Riders will still be able to pay with cash if they choose to, however, will now have more flexibility with how they pay their fares. Both improvements will make it easier for Orillia Transit users to move between the City of Orillia transit service and the Simcoe County LINX transit service.
“The investments in Orillia Transit to date have resulted in a better rider experience, improved capacities and better schedule adherence,” said Jeff Hunter, Manager of Construction and Transit. “We look forward to continuing to implement further improvements such as the Smart Pay Fare System to provide another level of service for our riders.”
Updated rate schedules and route maps are available on the City’s website at orillia.ca/transit and are available for pick up throughout the City.
Download Pingstreet, the City of Orillia’s free mobile application, and access real-time GPS-based information for all Orillia Transit routes including: bus arrival times; bus route information; current bus locations on the route map; and the option to save frequently used stops as a favourite for quick and easy access.
An annual rate increase was approved by Council as part of the 2020 budget process in order to maintain continuing improvements to Orillia Transit service.
The City of Orillia is a city of 31,000 people in the heart of Orillia & Lake Country on the shores of Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe. Visit our website at orillia.ca.
