Residents in Bathurst, New Brunswick, now have access to a new $5 door-to-door on-demand transit service designed to make getting around the city easier. The service launched in January 2026 in partnership with the Chaleur Regional Service Commission and is operated by FlexGo to provide affordable transportation for people without their own vehicles.
The service, called FlexGo, uses three 24-passenger minibuses to pick up passengers curb-to-curb and drop them off anywhere within the city’s boundaries. Riders must pre-book trips (FlexGo’s Taxibus service requires reservations at least one hour in advance) and can do so through the FlexGo mobile app, online, or by calling the service phone line (866-355-3539).
This initiative was made possible through federal support: the Government of Canada contributed $487,600 through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund to help purchase the new fleet. City and regional leaders chose the on-demand model because it is more flexible than traditional fixed-route buses for a spread-out community like Bathurst.
Mayor Kim Chamberlain said the service will help the city keep and attract residents by providing reliable rides to work and school. Officials say the program will specifically help workers reach the Industrial Park and assist seniors who need rides to appointments or shopping downtown.
Earlier planning and trial work explored fixed routes, which struggled with low ridership in part because of the city’s layout. The current FlexGo flat-rate model is being rolled out as a multi-year pilot (funded for three years), though city and regional officials have said they expect the service to continue beyond the pilot period if it proves successful.
