Sudbury’s transit system could see a record six million passengers by year's end

After facing huge challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Sudbury’s transit system is on track to set a new ridership record.

The city overhauled its transit system not long before the pandemic, renaming it GOVA and adding new routes and hubs with the goal of boosting long-term ridership. However, ridership plummeted as pandemic restrictions limited travel.

But a surge in the number of international students is helping boost the number of riders past pre-pandemic levels.

“Through 2023, we saw a significant increase in ridership to the extent of about 5.2 million and that was the highest we’ve seen for GOVA in the history of transit for the city,” said transit director Brendan Adair.

“So far this year we’ve seen in excess of 500,000 each month for ridership and so if that trend continues, we’ll be well over six million riders, which is incredible.”

Adair said they have extended service hours for transit to accommodate increased demand.

After facing huge challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Sudbury’s transit system is on track to set a new ridership record. (File)

“Also we will have a new route in the Valley, which kind of brings us back to where we were pre-pandemic in terms of service level delivery,” he said.

There is demand for earlier routes on weekends, Adair said, something they are studying.

International students and newcomers are playing a big role in the ridership increase, he added.

“The RNIP (Rural and Northern Immigration Program) has seen a steady increase in participants and associated newcomers, since 2021,” Adair said.

“With that, the city anticipates nearly 1,400 approved candidates and over 2,700 newcomers now in the community. We're confident that the transit system plays a critical role in supporting initial and ongoing transportation needs of these families.”

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Other changes in the work include updating fare boxes to give people more options to pay.

Included in the city’s budget is a policy to offer people aged 65 and older free GOVA rides every Tuesday in June. For more information on GOVA Transit service and schedules, click here.