JASON SETNYK
Cornwall residents had multiple opportunities to weigh in on the future of public transit last week as the City hosted a series of open houses tied to its ongoing Transit Master Plan review.
Sessions were held April 22 to 24 at the Cornwall Public Library, St. Lawrence College, the Benson Centre, and Cornwall Square, inviting residents, businesses, and transit users to share feedback on routes, service levels, and long-term priorities.
The City has retained Watt Consulting Group to guide the review, which will shape a five-year plan with an additional five-year outlook. The process includes examining current performance, identifying gaps, and evaluating options such as expanded service hours and system improvements.
“We want to ensure Cornwall Transit meets the needs of our community, both now and in the years ahead,” said Transit Manager Jean Marcil. “Community participation is vital to shaping a service that works for everyone.”
At the open house, Ashley Menard, administrative assistant for Cornwall Transit, said the sessions marked the start of a broader engagement effort. “We are having an open house for the beginning of our public engagement for the Transit Master Plan, where with our consultant Watt Consulting Group, we are looking to get feedback and insight from the community on what they’re looking for regarding the future of Cornwall Transit,” she said.
Displays showed current routes and invited residents to leave comments directly on maps. Maurice Rozon, maintenance supervisor, said the goal was to gather practical, location-specific input. “We’re really hoping that we get a lot of feedback from the residents of the city and what they want from us,” he said. “The same model has been used for quite a few years, and we just want their input.”
Consultants emphasized that public feedback will be combined with technical analysis. Monica Dafoe, transit analyst with Watt Consulting Group, said the process involves both listening and data review. “Today is all about listening and taking notes on what everyone is saying about the transit system improvements,” she said. “We’re going to take that and incorporate that into our transit master plan to make it better.”
Dafoe added that behind the scenes, the plan will examine ridership patterns, scheduling, and stop usage. “Things like how many people are getting on at these stops, what parts are really popular or maybe underused. Those details all factor into the recommendations,” she said.
One issue expected to feature prominently is Sunday transit service, which has been a recurring concern raised by residents and discussed at recent council meetings. Rozon noted that early feedback at the open house already pointed in that direction. “We’ve heard this morning about it, so I believe yes, we will definitely hear more about that,” he said.
Council has already taken initial steps toward that goal. At its April 13 meeting, council approved hiring Watt Consulting Group at a cost of $12,000 to support the development and implementation of Sunday service, with a target launch of September 2026. The work includes developing service options, estimating costs, and preparing detailed schedules and staffing plans. Council must review and approve the plan before it can be implemented.
The broader Transit Master Plan will also explore potential service innovations, including on-demand transit options. Menard said those ideas are still in the exploratory phase. “On-demand service is kind of a system of its own, so it’s just again looking for feedback on whether that would be something for the future,” she said.
The City’s review is supported by $710,246 in provincial gas tax funding, which can be used for service expansion, accessibility improvements, and capital upgrades.
Input gathered during the open houses will be analyzed by consultants and compiled into a report for council, forming the foundation of the Transit Master Plan and guiding decisions over the next decade.
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