With the reinstatement of the Ontario Northlander, Ontario is looking at the first and last mile and proposing a one-year rideshare pilot.
Currently, municipalities, rather than the province, regulate rideshare services, and rules vary across Ontario. “Some rideshare operators have indicated that inconsistent requirements can limit the expansion of rideshare services into rural, remote, and northern communities,” states a bulletin released by the province in March.
The Ontario Northlander “will carry passengers 740 kilometres between Toronto and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane. This creates a unique opportunity to improve first and last-mile connectivity along the corridor, and the Ministry is proposing this pilot as a first step toward supporting that goal,” adds the province.
The Northern Rideshare Pilot proposed by the Ministry of Transportation would run along the Northlander corridor between Gravenhurst and Cochrane, and establish consistent requirements for rideshare operators, drivers, and vehicles operating in communities along the way.
The province says its focus is to support an integrated, efficient transportation system that improves access along the Northlander route for rural and remote communities and beyond.
According to the Ministry, the pilot would:
- Set mandatory minimum requirements for operators, drivers and vehicles providing rideshare services in municipalities located between Gravenhurst station and Cochrane station along the Northlander Train corridor, reducing impacts on established rideshare services while maintaining existing frameworks that support access to the Washago, Gormley, Langstaff, and Union Station stops.
- The pilot requirements would apply instead of any existing municipal bylaws for rideshare services in the municipalities of North Bay, Temiskaming Shores, and Timmins to establish consistent requirements for rideshare services operating along the Northlander Passenger Train corridor.
- Establish reporting requirements for rideshare operators to support compliance and inform potential future province-wide oversight.
“Some rideshare operators have indicated that varying requirements across municipalities have created barriers to expanding rideshare services, despite growing demand in small, rural, remote, and northern communities and among vulnerable individuals such as older Ontarians. The outcomes of the pilot may inform future policy considerations related to rideshare services in Ontario,” states the Ministry.
To provide input on the pilot over the next five days on the provincial regulatory registry, click HERE.
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I appreciate that there is a lot of tension, community by community, regarding the regulations for finding safe rides for folks. Taxi versus Y Drive, or Uber, etc. And, indeed, there seems to be a need for uniformity. However, is this just another provincial over-reach into independent municipalities in Ontario? The current provincial government seems dedicated to instituting control over a broader and broader realm. Not sure that’s healthy for maintaining democracy. Nor does is honour unigue community needs.
From the input document: “primary goal of the proposed Northlander Rideshare Pilot Framework is to make it easier for passengers to get to and from Northlander train stations”.
Great. I’m for it. How this specially helps one get from Port Sydney to the train platform (not station), remains to be seen. Hoping for an option to the current fifty-dollar (maybe higher now) cab fare.
First/last mile is critical for user uptake.