In This Blog
- Canadian transit ridership surges: March 2025 saw nearly 136 million passenger trips, marking a 2% year-over-year increase and over 82% recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
- Vontas supports smarter mobility: Intelligent transit systems from Vontas help agencies like Saskatoon Transit and HSR modernise operations and improve service reliability.
- Real-time data transforms service: Vontas OnRoute enables faster complaint resolution, proactive detour management, and improved schedule adherence for Canadian transit teams.
- Driving cultural change in transit: Saskatoon Transit uses OnRoute to train drivers on consistent travel speeds, enhancing rider experience and operational efficiency.
- Vontas Canadian User Forum launches: A new initiative bringing together transit leaders to share insights, tackle challenges, and shape the future of Canadian public transport.
Canadian Transit Ridership Surges and Vontas Is Helping Agencies Keep Pace
Transit ridership across Canada is climbing steadily. In March 2025, urban transit systems recorded nearly 136 million passenger trips, marking a 2% increase compared to the same month last year. With ridership now at 82% of pre-pandemic levels, the country is seeing a strong recovery. March also saw an unseasonal 12% spike from February, partly due to earlier weather-related disruptions.
This momentum presents a real opportunity for Canadian transit agencies and Vontas is proud to support it. Our intelligent transit systems help agencies nationwide deliver accurate, reliable, and responsive service. With customers like Saskatoon Transit and Hamilton Street Railway (HSR), we’re committed to helping Canadian agencies modernize operations and meet rising rider expectations.
A Transformation in Action: Saskatoon Transit
Saskatoon Transit is a standout example of this transformation. Through their migration to Vontas OnRoute, the agency now leverages real-time data to dramatically improve how service issues and rider complaints are handled.
“Our customer service staff can answer customers’ questions in minutes,” said Cory Shrigley, Customer Support & Engagement Manager at Saskatoon Transit. “Now, we can provide hard evidence rather than just anecdotes.”
Using OnRoute’s GPS-enabled tools and video playback, staff can quickly validate complaints, pinpoint incidents, and respond confidently without needing to escalate to a supervisor. This leads to faster resolutions, greater passenger trust, and stronger team confidence.
When detours occur, dispatchers can easily draw and publish updated routing maps using point-and-click tools, instantly notifying operators and passengers. Meanwhile, Schedule Adherence Administrators proactively manage on-time performance and address issues before they escalate.
Saskatoon Transit is also driving a cultural shift. With real-time data, drivers are being trained to maintain consistent travel speeds, creating a smoother and more predictable experience for riders.
“We’re working on utilizing OnRoute to maintain more consistent travel speed,” said James McDonald, Director at Saskatoon Transit. “We want to get to a more headway-based approach. We’re trying to change the culture with drivers… and time adherence by stop is becoming more important.”
Introducing the Vontas Canadian User Forum
Vontas’s commitment to Canada goes beyond implementation. We actively participate in key industry events like the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Conference. Now, we’re launching a new initiative: a User Forum, exclusively for Canadian customers.
This one-day, hands-on event will bring together transit leaders from across the country to share strategies, product insights, and industry challenges. It’s a unique opportunity for agencies to learn from one another and shape the future of Canadian transit together. Find out more about the Vontas Canadian User Forum here.
Supporting What’s Next in Canadian Mobility
Canada’s ridership recovery is just the beginning. With transit agency revenue up over 8% year-over-year and new investments in technology, Canadian cities are ready for smarter, more connected mobility.
Vontas is here to help make that future possible. From scalable CAD/AVL systems to modern dispatch tools and passenger information platforms, we’re proud to support Canadian transit agencies in enhancing service today and preparing for tomorrow.
Want to learn how Vontas OnRoute can transform your operations? Connect with one of our experts today.