PEI’s Public Transit System and Its Connection to the Tourism Industry
As Islanders, we know better than anyone that every corner of our province is brimming with amazing things to see and do!
While Charlottetown is often the starting point for cruise passengers, bus-tour travellers, and fly-in visitors, many tourists wish to experience more of our Island. To do that, they must have reliable transportation.
Luckily, PEI’s public transit system offers an affordable and convenient way for visitors to explore the Island’s beauty from tip to tip, which also means expanding tourist spending to businesses in communities across PEI.
Of course, PEI’s transit system wasn’t designed with tourists in mind; it was created for Islanders.
The story of the PEI Transit system
Public transit on PEI began in Charlottetown, 20 years ago, when the municipal government turned to Mike Cassidy, the entrepreneurial force behind a local Island motorcoach company, to help plan and implement the system.
Passionate about moving people, Mike recognized the positive impact that transit could have on a community’s well-being. Eager to enhance the lives of Islanders, he took on the challenge of building a reliable and accessible transit network.
On its first day, September 30, 2005, Charlottetown’s transit system recorded only 75 daily fares! As demand grew, the service expanded. In 2012, Charlottetown Transit, including Stratford, Cornwall, and Summerside networks, became T3 Transit. In 2021, Transit PEI was introduced to provide an Island-wide service, connecting rural communities to central hubs and making affordable transportation accessible to even more Islanders.
In October 2021, then-Premier Dennis King launched Toonie Transit, a fare system allowing riders to travel anywhere for just $2 per ride. The following year, the government introduced monthly memberships offering unlimited travel for $20, and $10 for seniors and post-secondary students, while students between kindergarden and grade 12 ride for free.
Today, PEI’s public transit system continues to grow. In Charlottetown, Stratford, and Cornwall alone, daily ridership has skyrocketed to 6,000 passengers fairs – making this a truly, an essential service.
The Benefits of Public Transit
At its core, our transit system was designed to get Islanders where they need to go—whether that be to work or school, to visit friends and family, to shop and dine, or to access essential services like health clinics and hospitals.
But the impact of public transit extends far beyond simply getting people from point A to point B. It also helps Islanders by:
Reducing PEI’s Carbon Footprint
Public transit is crucial in shaping a sustainable future for our Island. As transportation is one of the largest carbon emitters in PEI, expanding public transit is a key step toward PEI’s goal of becoming the first net-zero province in Canada by 2040.
Supporting Our Economy
Mike Cassidy calls PEI’s transit system “an economic generator that no one really talks about.”
For tourists, public transit opens countless opportunities to explore the Island, creating more avenues for spending and supporting local businesses in both urban and rural areas. Visitors can easily access everything from remote beaches to scenic landmarks, boosting foot traffic to smaller, less-visited destinations. This not only strengthens tourism but also helps build and promote PEI’s diverse range of attractions, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits.
For Islanders, choosing public transit over private vehicles means saving money on gas, parking, insurance, and vehicle maintenance. In a time of record-high gasoline prices and rising inflation, this creates more disposable income, money that can be spent supporting local businesses and contributing to a thriving Island economy!
Growing our Workforce
“One of the main reasons people use the transit system is to get to school or work, ” says David Corrigan, a PEI Transit bus driver who travels the scenic route from Charlottetown to St. Peter’s five days a week. “It feels good knowing I am helping them get there.”
David knows most of his “regulars” by name. His passengers consist primarily of students and professors commuting to UPEI’s Climate Lab, workers travelling to tourism operations like Mysa Nordic Spa or St. Peter’s Landing, and St. Peter’s residents who embrace country living while commuting to urban jobs.
Beyond serving riders, the Island’s Urban and Rural transit system, the T3 brand employs 50 individuals.
Empowering Islanders
Of all the benefits of PEI’s transit system, Mike Cassidy says the most rewarding is empowering Islanders and giving them independence.
“We hear all kinds of stories about why people use the buses,” Mike says. “Whatever the reason, the PEI bus system gives people the freedom and independence to go where they like, when they like—and that’s an empowering feeling.”
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- For young or elder Islanders without a license or vehicle, it means independence.
- For eco-conscious individuals, it’s a tangible way to reduce their carbon footprint.
- For those feeling the pinch of a tough economy, it means extra money in their pockets.
- For students and part-time workers, it’s a dependable path toward building their futures.
- For families juggling shared vehicles, it’s a game-changer in daily scheduling.
- For individuals who can’t drive for health reasons, it’s more than just a ride—it’s a lifeline.
In 2025, PEI’s transit system is an essential service on PEI, with its buses travelling over 5,500 kilometres daily on municipal streets and provincial highways, serving more than 1.8 million passengers annually.
How Tourism Fuels Transit
Public transportation on PEI is a success story that wouldn’t be possible without a few key factors:
- The commitment of a Island-owned family business like the Cassidys, and their teams at T3 and Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus
- Strong support from both provincial and municipal governments
- Considerable financial investment – is where tourism comes in!
Tourism generates $84 million in provincial tax revenue annually, which funds vital initiatives like recruiting doctors, supporting school lunch programs, and maintaining PEI’s Rural and Municipal transit system.
Every dollar spent by tourists on PEI goes back into your communities. That means when tourism thrives, so does our community!
So the next time you’re riding or passing the bus, remember the incredible tourism operators’ role in bringing services like this to our Island.
It’s just one more way that PEI is Powered by Tourism!
