Halton Hills to explore rideshare options as the town’s taxi service shrinks

By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca

Halton Hills council has directed staff to investigate private-sector rideshare options to supplement the town’s existing transit services.

The motion, presented at the June 1 council meeting, responds to rising transportation needs and a shrinking local taxi industry.

The motion directs town staff to investigate and report back to council at a future meeting on rideshare-style partnerships or programs that could fit into the town’s transportation network, with affordability being a crucial criteria.

The motion notes that Halton Hills has long supported residents through services such as ActiVan and Taxi Scrip, but that “the cost of private vehicle ownership has gotten more expensive” and demand for alternative transportation is growing, particularly among youth, older adults and persons with disabilities.

At the same time council highlighted a decline in private taxi services available in town, leaving fewer options for door-to-door travel.

Coun. D’Arcy Keene said the idea had been developing for years but took on new urgency when council learned of the impending closure of E-Z Taxi.

With E-Z Taxi ceasing operations on June 30, it will leave the town with only G. Town Taxi as the only taxi service provider.

During the May 11 council meeting, council approved a staff report to extend ActiVan service hours to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Keene pointed to the rapid growth of app-based services and changing practices in the private sector, noting that businesses are already turning to rideshare-style providers instead of traditional shuttles.

Keene framed the motion as a way to modernize local options and protect access to essential trips for residents who cannot rely on a car.

“If those companies aren’t available anymore for us to use as part of our Taxi Scrip Program, then I think the public’s losing a service. A very valuable service,” he said.

Coun. Bob Inglis called the motion a logical next step after the loss of two local taxi providers.

He pointed to other municipalities, like Brampton, already using on-demand, curb-to-curb models and stressed that Halton Hills should learn from “the good” and “the bad” of existing programs elsewhere before designing its own approach.

Coun. Clark Somerville raised concerns about the interim gap. With another taxi service recently lost, he warned that “it is almost going to be considered an emergency situation” for some residents and noted that many rideshare-style services use surge pricing, which could increase costs.

Keene explained that the intent is not to replace ActiVan, but to free up resources and complement existing services. A better mix of private-sector options, he suggested, could strengthen, not weaken, Halton Hills’ specialized transit.