Just in time for summer, County Transit is rolling out a weekend public transit service connecting Wellington, Bloomfield, Picton and Belleville. Between Friday, June 27 and Sunday, September 7, the Summer Weekend Connector Buses will run Friday evenings, Saturday late morning to late evening, and Sunday late morning to dinnertime.
The two Summer Weekend Connector Buses run on a set route and schedule, connecting residents, visitors, and workers to key destinations across the region, complementing County Transit’s regular weekday route.
The service has been designed to connect more of the County’s geography and meet a wide variety of transportation needs – with a focus on offering a safe ride home from events and dining.
This temporary service expansion is funded in part by the municipal portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax revenue, as well as private sector partners. The municipality is grateful for the financial partnership of Base31, StayPEC, The Royal Hotel, The Eddie Hotel and Farm, and Wander the Resort, as well as promotional partnership of the PEC Chamber of Commerce, The Regent Theatre, and Visit The County.
The Summer Weekend Connector Buses are a temporary enhancement. The data collected through this summer program will help the municipality consider options for future weekend and evening transit services that can be included in the Transit Strategy Refresh, which is currently underway.
About the Service
Bus 1 – Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton
An 18-seat bus loops between Wellington, Bloomfield and Picton, stopping at key destinations like Wellington Rotary Beach, Base31, Macaulay Heritage Park, and the new Harbour Trail in Picton. It also provides access to all three historic main streets with cafés, restaurants, and accommodations.
The route starts in Wellington every 70 minutes offering the freedom to head to work, pick up groceries, explore local attractions, visit a farmers’ market, enjoy dinner out or take a swim, knowing the next bus is just over an hour away.
Bus 2 – Belleville – Bloomfield
This bus also operates on a 70 minute loop. The bus connects Bloomfield to the Belleville Transit Terminal, where riders can continue to VIA Rail, Quinte Mall and more. The bus will stop on-request in Rossmore.
Transfer in Bloomfield
Every 70 minutes, the two routes meet at the transit shelter in Bloomfield where riders can transfer between them.
Together, these two routes form the Summer Weekend Connector Buses – a seamless, affordable, fun and safe way to explore Prince Edward County this summer.
Fares and Tickets
One-way fares for the Summer Weekend Connector Buses will be the same as the year-round weekday service:
- In-Town / Short Distance (less than 5 km) – $3.50 / $2.50 discount
i.e. within Picton, within Wellington, Rossmore-Belleville - Within County (5-19 km) – $5.00 / $4.00 discount
i.e. Picton to Bloomfield, Bloomfield to Wellington, Wellington to Picton - Long-Distance (20 km+) – $10.00 / $7.00 discount
i.e. Belleville/Rossmore to Bloomfield, Wellington or Picton
Discount fares are available for seniors, people with disabilities, youth 14-18, and students with ID. Children ages 13 and under ride free. Monthly County Transit passes are valid for travel on the Summer Weekend Connector Buses.
A special Weekend Explorer Day Pass is available for a single day of unlimited travel on the Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton route for $12.00. This convenient and cost-effective pass encourages residents and visitors to explore multiple destinations at their own pace and support local businesses over the course of a whole day.
Riders can pay directly on the bus using cash (exact change, please) or Interac e-transfer to billing@quintetransit.ca.
Starting on July 2, tickets and transit information will also be available at The Regent Theatre in Picton, open daily from 10 am to 10 pm (cash, debit or credit). More ticket locations will be announced soon.
For more information about County Transit contact Vincent de Tourdonnet, Transit Coordinator, at vdetourdonnet@pecounty.on.ca, 343.645.2542.
Background Information
About County Transit
County Transit is a municipal public transit service, delivered through a service contract with Quinte Transit. County Transit includes a regular weekday bus service between Picton and Belleville, public on-demand services and specialized service for registered clients (people with disabilities, seniors age 55+).
For more information about County Transit, visit www.countytransit.ca. Occasionally, County Transit runs pilot programs like the Weekend Summer Connector to test new transit services and fill transportation gaps.
Schedules and Maps
Printed schedules and maps will be available soon at various locations around Prince Edward County to help riders plan their trips with ease.
The stops on the Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton route include:
- Wellington United Church
- Wellington Rotary Beach
- The Eddie Hotel and Farm / Wander the Resort (on-request stop)
- Bloomfield
- George Wright Boulevard (eastbound)
- 86 Picton Main Street (near KFC)
- Mary Street at Delhi Park (Parking Lot)
- Base31
- Macaulay Village / The Heights
- Macaulay Museum
- Picton Harbour
- King Street and Ross Street (Picton)
- King Street and Bowery Street (Picton)
- Metro Grocery Store (Picton)
- George Wright Boulevard (westbound)
The stops on the Belleville – Bloomfield route include:
- Belleville Bus Terminal
- Rossmore Plaza (on-request stop)
- Bloomfield
The daily schedules are:
Friday:
- Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton
First bus begins service in Wellington at 5:30 pm and ends service there at 11:45 pm - Belleville – Bloomfield
First bus begins service in Belleville at 5:15 pm and service ends there at 11:27 pm
Saturday:
- Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton
First bus begins service in Wellington at 10:30 am and ends service there at 11:45 pm - Belleville – Bloomfield
First bus begins service in Belleville at 10:15 am, and service ends there at 11:27 pm
Sunday:
- Wellington – Bloomfield – Picton
First bus begins service in Wellington at 10:30 am and ends service there at 7:05 pm - Belleville – Bloomfield
First bus begins service in Belleville at 10:15 am and service ends there at 6:47 pm
Full schedules will be available soon at www.Countytransit.ca and in print.
On-Request Stops
Some stops are “on-request,” meaning the bus only stops there if a rider asks the driver to be let off, or for pick-up, by arranging in advance. On-request stops include The Eddie Hotel and Farm / Wander the Resort (15786 Loyalist Parkway), and Rossmore Plaza (5529 Highway 62). Other on-request stops may be added as the summer goes on.
To request a pickup, text 613.899.8287 at least 30 minutes before the bus leaves the previous scheduled stop. Include your pickup stop and destination stop in the message.
Tourism Gives Back
The Summer Weekend Connector Buses are made possible through tourism revenues, including $35,000 from the municipal portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax revenue, and private sector partners including Base31, StayPEC, The Eddie Hotel and Farm, The Royal Hotel, and Wander the Resort.
The service is designed to benefit everyone – residents and visitors, alike – whether for work or for leisure, helping people get where they need to go safely and conveniently this summer. The service also aims to mitigate some of the transportation-related pressures that arise in the summer tourism season including limited parking, congestion on roadways, limited taxi and ridesharing services, and impaired driving.
About the Municipal Accommodation Tax
The Municipal Accommodation Tax is a 4% tax charged on overnight stays in Prince Edward County. Visitors to Prince Edward County pay the tax to accommodators when they book, and accommodators remit the tax to the municipality. By law, half of the tax revenue must be shared with “destination marketing organizations” (Visit The County and StayPEC) for the purpose of promoting Prince Edward County as a tourism destination. The other half remains with the municipality.
Over the last four years, the municipality has invested a portion of its MAT revenue in rural road maintenance, as well as tourism management activities such as transportation programs, accessibility upgrades, washroom and garbage service, invasive species management on the Millennium Trail, grants for arts organizations and events, and other municipal summer services. The Weekend Summer Connector is funded in part by the Municipal Accommodation Tax.
Consultation
Municipal staff consulted business owners, youth, families, residents without vehicles, alcohol-serving businesses and business associations and heard a clear message: transportation to and within Prince Edward County is a challenge. Concerns included getting to work between towns, getting home after enjoying a drink, limited parking in town centres, and the need for better weekend options for everyone. Feedback also highlighted the importance of helping young people travel independently and giving families car-free access to a beach. This input inspired staff to rally available resources and bring this transit enhancement to life – funded by tourism revenues but designed to benefit all.
Transit Strategy Refresh
The municipality is updating its public transit program by engaging a transit consultant using funding from the Provincial Community Transportation Grant. This update will help plan a better transit system for the next three to five years. The current transit plan is based on data from 2018. Since then, Prince Edward County has changed, with more growth predicted, especially in Picton and Wellington. There are also challenges with hiring and keeping workers in Prince Edward County. A better transit system can help. The municipality also wants to support seniors, youth, families, and workers who need better ways to get around.
For more information about the Transit Strategy Refresh, and how to get involved, visit the Have Your Say page.
Summer Weekend Connector Itinerary Ideas
- Leave the car at home and enjoy a night on the town(s). Have dinner in Bloomfield before a concert at Base31. Enjoy a meal in Picton and nightcap in Wellington. Catch a show at the Regent Theatre and dessert in Bloomfield.
- Explore with a Weekend Explorer Day Pass. A $12 ticket will provide access to everything in the County’s three largest towns from Wellington Rotary Beach to a County museum or from the skatepark to one of the many County libraries.
- Tour the County’s markets. Hop between the Wellington Community Market and the Wellington Farmers’ Market on Saturday and explore the Picton Town Hall Farmers’ Market on Sunday.
- Kids 13 and under ride free!
- Get to work on transit. Leave the car at home – whether home is Belleville, Rossmore Picton, Bloomfield or Wellington – and make your way to your weekend shift on transit.
- A car-free visit to The County is now possible – arrive at the Belleville VIA station and connect to County Transit at the Belleville Bus Terminal. Use the bus to explore shops and enjoy local food in three charming Main Streets, with access to Wellington’s beach, day spas, farmers’ markets, cultural events at The Regent Theatre, Base31 and more!
- Need to go further than transit can go? Connect with a taxi or Uride for the first or final leg of your trip or bring your bike! County Transit buses can accommodate a bike on board, or, where available, on bike racks on the front of the bus. E-bike and bike rental outlets are near the transit stops at Base31, Wellington and Picton.