The Town of Minto, Ontario, is asking local business owners and major employers to help design a new regional bus network that would connect four neighbouring counties. The study is a collaboration among Bruce, Dufferin, Grey and Wellington counties in partnership with Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART); Grey County is serving as the lead administrator for the project.
Local officials want to collect information about employee shift times and residential locations so future bus routes and schedules align with local industry needs. The goal is to create a unified system that allows residents to travel between communities such as Palmerston and Harriston to larger employment hubs like Orangeville and Owen Sound.
The study is supported by a $9.5-million commitment from the Government of Ontario (Ontario Transit Investment Fund), with additional federal support and local contributions assisting engagement and planning. Proponents say the work is intended to address gaps where existing rural bus services end at county boundaries and to explore a more seamless regional network.
Public engagement ran in late January; local outlets reported the public survey closed around Jan. 25, 2026, while the project webpage listed the survey as open until Feb. 1, 2026. Minto and the regional study team are now prioritizing employer input — with an employer-focused engagement window running into early February — so businesses can share shift schedules and commute patterns to inform route and schedule design.
