Niagara Transit and Optibus Collaborate to Enhance Passenger and Driver Experience

Niagara Transit and Optibus have partnered to enhance public transit across Ontario’s Niagara region!

Through this collaboration, Niagara Transit will implement Optibus Planning, Scheduling, Rostering, Operations, and Driver App to boost service and operational efficiency and improve the driver and passenger experience. The decision comes as Niagara Transit moves to finalize their first Transit Master Plan, guiding improvements and investments that will build more connected communities over the next decade. 

Advancing Mobility for All

Public transit provides every person in Niagara with safe, reliable, and sustainable access to jobs, education, and social services. To support its vision of a more connected region, NT has launched a comprehensive set of initiatives to enhance services across its network, with key achievements in 2024 including:

• Ridership: Passenger numbers nearly doubled, from 5.6M in 2022 to 10.9M in 2024.
• Reliability: Achieved 83% on-time performance (OTP) on conventional routes (above industry average of 79%).
• Safety: 90% of riders reported feeling safe using Niagara Transit (above the Canadian average of 86%).
• Access: Introducing a new low-cost monthly pass making transit affordable to nearly 50,000 more passengers.
• Driver Satisfaction: Launched a new bus operator recruitment model to boost hiring and job satisfaction.

As ridership continues to grow, Niagara Transit is focused on identifying and leveraging efficiencies to further enhance service reliability, accessibility, and safety — ensuring every passenger is supported and investments by taxpayers are used wisely.

Introducing Optimization Technologies to Improve Efficiency and Support Passengers and Drivers

Building on its 2024 success, Niagara Transit is implementing Optibus’ software solutions to drive further efficiencies using advanced optimization technologies and artificial intelligence. 

Following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, Niagara Transit selected five Optibus modules, citing the platform’s flexibility, cloud-native design, and strong customer support. Optibus’ software analyzes large datasets to uncover actionable insights, improve performance, and streamlines work collaboration through an intuitive user interface.

• Planning: Design smarter, more equitable networks using real-world data, map-based tools, and performance analytics.
• Scheduling: Create optimized, cost-effective vehicle and driver schedules in seconds with advanced algorithms.
• Rostering: Build efficient, balanced driver rosters that reduce overtime and support workforce satisfaction.
• Operations: Manage real-time service changes, long-term allocations, and driver availability from a centralized control center.
• Driver App: Equip drivers with one mobile tool to access shift details, make requests, set preferences, and receive updates.

By adopting these tools, Niagara Transit aims to enhance services for residents and visitors across Niagara and support Bus Operator satisfaction while ensuring financial sustainability. 

Carla Stout, General Manager, Niagara Transit, said:

“We’re committed to delivering the best possible service to Niagara’s communities. Partnering with Optibus will introduce optimization technologies that support our mission to ensure everyone has access to safe, reliable, and affordable transit — while keeping our operations sustainable and responsive to evolving passenger needs as we grow.”

Amos Haggiag, CEO and Co-founder, Optibus, said:

“We are proud to partner with Niagara Transit, an organization making strides in service reliability, access, and safety for passengers. Supporting this historic period of improvements is an honor for Optibus, and we’re excited to help shape a more connected, efficient transit network for Niagara.” 

Niagara Transit’s collaboration with Optibus expands the Optibus network across Niagara, increasing the number of cities and towns with Optibus-powered public transit to 7,000.

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About Niagara Transit 

Niagara Transit connects the Niagara Region with reliable, accessible, and integrated public transit. Launched on January 1, 2023, the service unified local transit systems into a single network. Niagara Transit offers conventional bus routes, specialized transit for accessibility needs, and flexible microtransit options, committed to enhancing regional connectivity and supporting the freedom and independence of residents and visitors.

About Optibus

Optibus is a unified software platform for public transportation planning, scheduling, rostering, operations, and passenger information, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization algorithms. In thousands of cities worldwide, transportation agencies and operators use Optibus to maximize the positive impact of public transportation on passengers and the planet, improve operational efficiency and service quality, promote transportation equity, reduce emissions and costs, and modernize operations. Learn more: www.optibus.com