Transit Windsor will resume its route to Leamington in time for the start of the school year.
The pilot project started last year with stops in Essex and Kingsville, but had to be suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive Director Pat Delmore says reconnecting the county with Windsor-Essex is another step towards getting back to normal.
"We really wanted to get it back and make sure that people have the opportunity to travel to and from Leamington, Essex and Kingsville, and get into the city. We'll be able to do that," he says.
Delmore says ridership for the route was on the rise before it was shut down in March.
"There were people that were coming in for post-secondary education, people coming in for doctors' appointments and shopping," he says. "I think they wanted to get that opportunity back out for communities," he says.
Delmore says fares are still not being charged on Transit Windsor buses.
"We're certainly looking at how we'll revamp everything and re-implement services that haven't been there over the last number of months," he says. "It's certainly been a rough number of months for people who use transit and we recognized that and appreciate their patience."
The route from Leamington to Windsor is set to resume its regular three round trips per day Monday to Friday and two on Saturday on Sept. 8.
Existing Transit Windsor rules apply including: boarding from the rear of the bus and wearing a non-medical mask.
Delmore says city routes remain on the Sunday-holiday schedule for the time being.