City of St. Thomas

Parallel Transit is a personalized door-to-door transportation service for members, who because of limitations, are unable to board the fixed route service.  Parallel Transit bookings are on a first come first serve basis. 

Anyone interested in using Parallel Transit must complete a City of St. Thomas Application.  Please bring your completed application form to the Environmental Services Department at City Hall between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. 

This form is also available from the Environmental Services Department at City Hall, or by mail by calling 631-1680 ext. 4161 and requesting that an application form be sent out. 

The form can be completed and signed by the applicant or any other designated person on behalf of the applicant if he/she is incapable of signing. 

Parallel Transit fees are as follows: 

Payable upon boarding the vehicle. Please be sure to have the exact fare ready.

Advance tickets will be sold on the paratransit buses, in sheets of 10 - $22.5 for adults, $16.50 for children, students and seniors.  Please note exact change is required.

Residents of St. Thomas, who because of limitations, are unable to board the regular public transportation system, may use Parallel Transit.  Riders generally fall into these categories: Permanent (indefinite usage), Temporary (medical prescribed temporary usage) and Visitors (visiting St. Thomas yet are registered with another Ontario Parallel system).

Some scooters and electric wheelchairs (depending on their size, weight, and type) are permitted aboard Parallel transit vehicles.  Riders are asked to get their devices verified by the transit operator for accommodation.  If they can be accommodated, approved riders will be required to transfer themselves to a fixed seat on the Parallel bus.  Drivers are not permitted to lift persons in wheelchairs for safety reasons.

Parallel Transit bookings can be completed by App or by calling Railway City Transit during the operating hours Mon-Fri: 7:15 am - 9:45 pm/ Sat: 9:15 am - 9:45 pm/ Sun: 9:15 am - 5:45 pm.

Bookings are permitted to be 14 days in advance.

Example; if you call on Monday March 1^st, you may book trip for any available time up to Monday March 15^th, but not March 16^th or beyond.

This service is on a first come first served basis.

Please have the following information ready when calling to request a ride:

• Your name
• The date of your requested pickup
• The time of your requested pickup
• Your registration number
• Payment Method
• Address at which you wish to be picked up
• Your destination address
• Advise if you will be accompanied by an attendant

Booking by app will provide reminder texts of your upcoming trip and allow riders to follow the bus on a map as it draws near to your pickup. Telephone bookings will confirm your pickup/drop off location, date and a time window when the bus will arrive.

Have your parallel rider card handy to show the driver when boarding the bus.

Be ready for the start of the time window and be on the lookout for the bus as they are only required to wait two minutes once arriving for a pickup. After two minutes the drive may “no show” the rider where the first incident is no charge however subsequent incidents are full fare payable.

A standing arrangement for service is available for persons who are traveling at a regular time to and/or from a destination such as, but not limited to, work or post-secondary school.

This option is available in the app or when calling to book a trip.  Recurring trips expire after 14 days and will need to be renewed once elapsed.

To help make the service as efficient and as effective as possible:

• Be ready five minutes ahead of your scheduled time. The driver is not required to wait more than two minutes past arrival during your pick-up time window

• If you must cancel, do it as far in advance as possible

• Try to be as flexible as possible when making arrangements for a ride and allow up to thirty minutes wait from your scheduled pick-up time window, especially in bad weather

• All passengers must wear seatbelts

• Drivers are not permitted to lift persons in wheelchairs. (This policy was established to protect both the client and the drivers)

• Smoking is NOT permitted on the bus

• Service is provided only from accessible door to accessible door 

To help make the service as efficient and as effective as possible:

• Be ready five minutes ahead of your scheduled time. The driver is not required to wait more than five minutes past your appointment pick-up time
• If you must cancel, do it as far in advance as possible
• Try to be as flexible as possible when making arrangements for a ride and allow up to thirty minutes wait from your scheduled pick-up time, especially in bad weather
• All passengers must wear seatbelts
• Drivers are not permitted to lift persons in wheelchairs. (This policy was established to protect both the client and the drivers)
• Smoking is NOT permitted on the bus
• Service is provided only from accessible door to accessible door