Orillia transit survey en route

An Orillia, Ont., bus stops for transit riders on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 (Steve Mansbridge/CTV News)

An Orillia transit survey run by Georgian College students is up and running.

Orillia hopes to have new direction after Georgian College students complete their studies.

Orillia is partnering with research analyst students to gather feedback on the Orillia Transit Service with the Orillia Transit Study; Your Ride, Your Say survey.

Running from Monday to March 28, the survey asks residents to share their experiences to shape the future of the city’s transit.

“The city of Orillia is committed to delivering a transit system that meets the needs of our growing community,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “This survey is an important opportunity for residents to share their experiences and ideas, helping us make informed decisions to improve service, accessibility, and efficiency.”

The survey asks for feedback on key transit topics, including:

• Service frequency and routes
• Barriers to transit use and areas for improvement
• Interest in on-demand transit options
• Potential enhancements to bus schedules and accessibility

“The insights gathered from this survey will directly inform how Orillia Transit evolves to better serve our community,” said Danielle Eves, Orillia’s manager of parking and transit. “We encourage all transit riders to participate and have their voices heard.”

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The survey is available online. Paper copies can be picked up at Orillia City Centre and the Orillia Public Library.

Participants could win a free one-month transit pass, Downtown Orillia Dollars, or a pass to the Orillia Recreation Centre after completing the survey.

Survey responses will remain anonymous, and results will be reported back to the city of Orillia and the Transportation and Parking Working Group to help guide future transit improvements.

“Through this collaboration with the city, our students are gaining hands-on experience in data collection and analysis, while contributing to an important community initiative,” said Richard Rinaldo, program coordinator of Georgian’s research analyst program.

”We’re proud to support research that directly benefits Orillia residents,” he said.