You can now ride a Transit Windsor bus to Leamington, Essex and Kingsville

Region-wide transit in Windsor-Essex is one stop closer to reality with the launch of a new Leamington to Windsor route.

LTW Transit launched Monday with three runs between St. Clair College and the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex. The service also makes stops at the Kingsville Arena Complex and the Essex Centre Sports Complex.

A one-way trip costs $10, with a same-day round trip costing $15, and a monthly pass for $250.

Sanjay Maru/CBC
Sanjay Maru/CBC

The pilot project is funded by the Province of Ontario, which is providing $606,400, and Leamington, which is spending $125,000. Fare revenue will fund the rest of service, which is expected to cost approximately $1-million in total until provincial funding ends in March 2023.

Leamington mayor Hilda MacDonald said while the service was inspired by previous efforts to transport students to Windsor, she expects LTW Transit to appeal to a broader demographic.

"People will be able to come for work, education as well as tourism ... family ... and appointments," she said. "And when they get to Windsor ... they will be able to transfer for free to other buses in the city."

The mayor noted that the service can also accommodate two bicycles, which she suggested would be perfect for riders who would like to cycle to Point Pelee National Park.

LTW Transit runs three times a day during the week, and twice on Saturday. A one way trip from Windsor to Leamington takes approximately 70 minutes.