Huron Shores Area Transit (HSAT) has added new and additional stops throughout Sarnia-Lambton to better serve small communities.
HSAT added a third daily run for Route 1, which operates from Sarnia to Grand Bend. New stops at Thedford, Arkona, and the Sarnia Walmart Supercentre were also added to the route.
A new stop at London University Hospital was also added to Route 2, which runs from Grand Bend to London.
Transit Coordinator Charles Fitzsimmons said it's hoped this expansion will help public transit users have more opportunities to shop, especially those living in small communities.
"So we're now connecting three of our routes with Walmart Supercentres in Strathroy, Sarnia, and Goderich," said Fitzsimmons. "Given the difficulties that a person has in very small communities shopping for everyday things … we are hoping that this will really appeal to people."
The additional daily run for Route 1 is a mid-day run which Fitzsimmons said will allow Sarnia-Lambton residents to go to Grand Bend and not have to stay the entire day. From Grand Bend, there's also the option to go to London, as well as Strathroy and Goderich on certain days. Fitzsimmons said the routes also offer an opportunity to connect with the Strathroy-Caradoc Inter-Community Transit.
"The appeal of a regional transit system that runs through so many different communities is stronger as time goes by and services are curtailed in the smaller places so we're making a big effort to include four new small communities in our route structure," he said.
Two of those communities are in Lambton Shores (Thedford and Arkona) and two are in Bluewater (Zurich and Hensall).
The service expansion came into effect on Sunday, February 6.
HSAT's $5 fare will remain the same. Transfers between routes are free, and children 12 and under ride free of charge.
Schedule information can be found on HSAT's website or Facebook page.
