• Mayor Iain Lovatt is in talks with Argo, an AI-powered on-demand bus company, to bring its service to York Region.
  • Argo’s electric buses, already running in Bradford and Brampton, operate like Uber using real-time AI-guided routing.
  • The service can utilize PRESTO and could improve “last mile” connections to GO Transit within underserved communities like Stouffville.
  • The possibility of adding the new transit service will be coming forward in an upcoming York Regional Council meeting.
  • Argo would complement YRT’s On-Request program, another on-demand option expanded throughout the town earlier this year.
  • Lovatt hopes Argo will begin Stouffville operations as early as 2026.

 

Stouffville could see a new form of public transit navigating its streets if talks with a private ride-hailing bus company move forward, Mayor Iain Lovatt announced this week.

Responding to questions about the need for better local transit options during a Nov. 12 meeting at the 55+ Club, Lovatt said he has been in discussions with Argo, an on-demand electric bus service already operating in parts of the GTA. The company’s fully accessible, SUV-sized vehicles have ten seats and can accommodate up to 18 passengers.

Similar to other ride-hailing services, trips are booked through Argo’s app or by phone and can be made to and from destinations within a specific service area. Its artificial intelligence software analyzes each trip request, groups passengers heading in similar directions, and dynamically routes the fleet in real time to ensure efficient pick-ups and drop-offs.

The buses currently operate in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Brampton, and Argo is expected to present during York Regional Council’s December 4 Committee of the Whole meeting. Lovatt said he is planning to table a subsequent motion asking Regional Staff to formally enter discussions for underserved communities like Stouffville.

In Bradford, Argo service covers the Town’s entire urban boundary. Fares range from $1 to $3 depending on payment method, and riders are able to track their bus via the app. According to recent reporting from the Toronto Star, wait times can range from 15 to 30 minutes during off-peak hours and 45 minutes to an hour at peak times.

If approved, Argo could provide residents with a convenient and affordable alternative to driving, helping to ease congestion as the town grows. If service levels allow, on-demand buses could also help close “last mile” gaps by conveniently connecting riders to higher-order transit like Stouffville’s GO stations.

Argo assumed bus operations in Bradford earlier this year, initiating its Smart Routing system in early April and offering free trips to and from the Bradford GO station. According to the company, the number of local transit connections to GO service has increased by 5.5 times.

The proposed bus service would also complement York Region Transit’s Route 9 bus and the On-Request program, an on-demand option expanded across Stouffville earlier this year. Argo can integrate with PRESTO, as well, allowing riders to pay with the same method used for YRT, TTC, and GO transit.

Lovatt commended Argo’s growing Bradford ridership, which more than doubled between April and June. “They will pick you up at or near your house, and they will take you where you need to go,” he added, describing the service as operating much like Uber but designed as a shared, eco-friendly transit option.

“Ultimately, Regional Council needs to weigh in on this, but my hope is that Argo will be rolling into Stouffville in 2026,” he said.

Cover image provided by and used with permission from Argo