Last December, Town of Yarmouth Transit fares were removed, and new stops were added, including a stop at Wasoqopa’q First Nation (WFN). When these changes were made, it was the hope of Council that a key result would be an increase in ridership.
Three months after making the service free for all riders and forming a partnership with WFN, that hope has come true with a huge increase in passenger numbers reported.
While December enjoyed a significant bump in passenger numbers, the greatest increase was noted for January. The total for January 2025 was 3,108 passengers. In 2024, the total was 1,282 for the same month. That represents an increase of 142%. It’s also the highest monthly ridership since the service began in 2016.
“To say we are thrilled with the response to the changes would be an understatement,” said Mayor Pam Mood. “Transit in our community isn’t just about getting from point A to point B - it’s about the ability to do so without today’s pressure of finding the funds to do so. The uptake is HUGE and comes from all aspects of ridership, including more students, seniors, families and more. Council has repeatedly said it’s one of the best and most impactful decisions we’ve made. And it was an easy one.”
For more details on the Town of Yarmouth’s FREE and accessible transit service, please visit: https://www.townofyarmouth.ca/transit-services.html