Transport Thom, which has been running 3 area services for a number of years, is improving its service from Almonte to Ottawa. Previously, Almonte residents needed to go to Carleton Place to catch the Perth-Gatineau service at the Harvey's on Highway 7 if they wanted to commute into the Ottawa area with Transport Thom. Now, Transport Thom has added a commuter service from Carleton Place through Almonte directly into Ottawa. This service commenced January 3, 2012 and operates Monday to Friday, stat holidays excepted. The bus leaves Carleton Place at 6:20 a.m. daily and picks up passengers at the Almonte arena. It then proceeds down Bridge Street to Ottawa Street/March Road and will pick up passengers on demand from there to Highway 417. Popular gathering places might be the Independent or Tim Horton's in Almonte.
The bus stops at the Eagleson Park and Ride, then at Greenbank and Baseline, Baseline at Navaho (for Algonquin College), the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Carling, Tunney's Pasture, Laurier and Kent, the Rideau Centre and Ottawa University. The bus will go to Carleton University upon request.
The return bus leaves downtown Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. from the Rideau and Dalhousie intersection. It stops at Tunney's Pasture, the Civic Hospital, Westgate Shopping Mall (where Carleton Place or Perth residents may switch to the Carleton Place-Perth bus), Carling and Maitland, the Almonte arena and ends at the Carleton Place arena.
Pakenham residents will need to continue to take the Pakenham- Carleton Place bus to Carleton Place to catch the Perth-Gatineau service or they may make their way to Almonte and catch the Ottawa service there.
Transport Thom uses is a highway coach for this service.
Transport Thom stated in an interview that it is open to suggestions about its route. The company may be contacted at 1-800-465-7254 or 819-663-7253
The cost is $10 one-way or passes may be purchased for $80 per week or $290 per month. The service receives no subsidies.