Regional bus service connecting Owen Sound with Guelph and Dundalk with Orangeville will continue through the end of 2026, while a former route between Owen Sound and Wiarton is set to return this fall.
The City of Owen Sound says Guelph Owen Sound Transportation, commonly known as GOST, and Grey Transit Route 2 have been confirmed to operate through December 31, 2026.
GTR Route 5, which previously connected Owen Sound and Wiarton, will also be reintroduced sometime this fall. A seasonal extension from Wiarton to Sauble Beach will be considered for the summer of 2027, subject to funding approval.
Regional officials say the interim services are being maintained so passengers continue to have transportation while Bruce, Dufferin, Grey and Wellington counties work with Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit on a potential unified transit network.
"Continuing these services protects existing ridership and gives residents continued access to transit while long-term options are investigated," the regional release states.
The Owen Sound-to-Wiarton route ended on December 31, 2024, after its previous operating funding expired. The service had operated along Highway 6 and previously continued to Sauble Beach during the summer tourism season.
GOST travels between Owen Sound and Guelph, with stops in Chatsworth, Williamsford, Durham, Mount Forest, Arthur, Fergus and Elora.
"The service offers an affordable and convenient option for commuters, students, visitors, and residents travelling throughout the region," the City of Owen Sound release states.
Two southbound buses leave the Owen Sound Transit Terminal each day at 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Return trips leave Guelph Central Station at 10:38 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The service operates seven days a week, including statutory holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day. Fares are based on the distance travelled and range from $5 for shorter trips to $20 between Owen Sound and Guelph.
The latest announcement extends GOST beyond its previous August 31 funding deadline. The City of Owen Sound reported earlier this year that the service provided almost 13,000 rides in 2025, with ridership peaking during the summer and increasing as more passengers began using the route.
The continued GOST and GTR services are being funded through the participating counties’ approved 2026 budgets, with support from the Ontario Transit Investment Fund. Funding required to continue the services in 2027 will be considered through the Grey County budget process.
The four counties and SMART are working with Dillon Consulting on a draft regional transit plan. The plan is expected to be presented to the county councils and SMART board this fall, with final decisions on a long-term regional model anticipated in 2027.
The study is examining whether existing services could be brought together into a more coordinated network with consistent fares, easier connections between counties and expanded service in communities that currently have few or no public transportation options.
Options being studied include intercommunity routes operating at least three or four times per day, expanded on-demand service through SMART and connections with systems such as GO Transit, Owen Sound Transit, Guelph Transit, Orangeville Transit and Simcoe County’s LINX service.
Regional officials say demand for rural transportation is increasing because of population growth, an aging population and the rising cost of owning and operating a vehicle.
The study is also looking at how shared vehicles, technology and administrative services could make regional transit more efficient and sustainable.
