The Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce is surveying local businesses to get their thoughts on the current state of public transportation in and out of the community.
The survey gauges things like what methods they use, how often, and whether the current model is meeting their needs.
Transportation Committee Chair Mark Lumley said a number of Chamber members have indicated that it's a struggle to use anything besides a car.
"We're hoping to encourage some new modes of transportation that would be better for the environment, and better for our own safety," said Lumley. "People could have opportunities to have a nap, read a book, or do some homework instead of two hands on the wheel by yourself in your car to come in and out of the community."
Lumley said there are barriers to using the current VIA Rail train service in terms of frequency, reliability and timing.
"The train service has been pared down to something that has been indicated to not be usable," he said. "So, we're trying to encourage VIA to give us some more reliability and frequency. We know that is a challenge with the amount of tracks there are. So, we're looking at other options. But, before we do that, we want to know what our members think."
There is an intercity bus service connecting Sarnia with Strathroy and London, but it doesn't go any further than that.
It's funded by the province through this year, and operates three round trips daily and two weekend round trips.
Lumley said improving those services could be a positive thing in terms of social and economic value.
"We want to make it so that students can get in and out of town and to Lambton College from larger centres. We're hoping that day business meetings in Toronto, from our business community, can happen. Maybe even evening entertainment where you can go see a show or a ball game and still come home that night."
The survey is available online here:
