Caledon is moving into on-demand transit. The Town announced Tuesday it has partnered with Argo Transit to launch a 15-month pilot that will let residents book door-to-door rides in parts of the community starting this fall.
The service will cover Bolton, Caledon East and Mayfield West/Southfields, according to a Town of Caledon news release. Riders will be able to pre-book trips or request rides in real time through a mobile app or by phone.
The pilot will also connect riders to Brampton Transit, York Region Transit and GO Transit, giving residents a link to neighbouring transit networks.
Argo's Smart Routing technology picks riders up at their door and combines trips heading in the same direction, all for the cost of a standard transit fare.
“Caledon continues to explore innovative solutions to improve how residents move throughout our community,” Mayor Annette Groves said in the release. “This pilot reflects our commitment to delivering accessible, efficient and sustainable transit options while embracing new technologies that have the potential to improve service for our residents.”
Testing a flexible model
The Town says the pilot will let it evaluate how an on-demand transit model performs in Caledon's local context, expanding mobility within the community and broadening connections to nearby services while adapting to changing travel patterns in one of Ontario's fastest-growing municipalities.
“We’re excited to partner with Argo to test a model that could help shape the future of transit in Caledon,” said Domenica D’Amico, the Town's Commissioner of Engineering, Public Works and Transportation. “This pilot will provide an opportunity to evaluate a flexible transit model that can respond to rider demand while helping us better understand how innovative transit solutions can support our growing community.”
The pilot supports the Town's broader transportation objectives, which include improving mobility and accessibility for residents and strengthening links to transit in neighbouring communities.
What Argo brings
“Caledon is shaping a transit service designed for the way its communities actually move. We're proud to provide the Smart Routing technology that powers it, bringing on-demand, door-to-door transit to Caledon for the first time,” said Praveen Arichandran, CEO and co-founder of Argo.
“The Town's leadership in exploring new approaches to public transit will improve accessibility, increase efficiency, and provide residents with a more convenient way to travel. We look forward to working with the Town to help shape the next generation of community transit,” Arichandran added.
Caledon is home to close to 80,000 residents and 4,000 businesses, and the Town is preparing for significant growth, with projections of 300,000 residents and 125,000 jobs by 2051.
Residents can find more information and updates on the pilot at caledon.ca/transit.
