MiWay
MiWay, also known and formerly branded as Mississauga Transit, is the municipal public transport agency serving Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and responsible to the City of Mississauga's Transportation and Works Department. MiWay services consist of two types of bus routes: MiLocal, local buses that make frequent stops, and MiExpress, express buses between major destinations. MiWay is the primary operator along the Mississauga Transitway, a dedicated east–west bus-only roadway. The system operates over 3,223 stops.
MiWay's routes connect with GO Transit along with Brampton Transit to the north, Oakville Transit to the southwest, Milton Transit to the northwest, Toronto Transit Commission to the east and York Region Transit to the northeast. In 2024, MiWay's annual boardings totalled to 58.4million passengers, making it the third largest public transit provider in Ontario and seventh largest in Canada.
MiWay is a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association.
History
Public transit in Mississauga was first operated by Charterways Limited as Mississauga Transit Systems with four buses in 1969. It was acquired by the city's newly formed Mississauga Transit in 1974, incorporating the former towns of Mississauga, Port Credit and Streetsville. Services began on November 1, 1973.It later acquired routes formerly operated by others, such as;
- The Toronto Transit Commission's 74 Port Credit bus, in February 1976, that had operated on Lakeshore Road from Long Branch since 1935. This succeeded a former interurban railway, dating back to 1892 as the Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company.
- Gray Coach Lines, and later GO Transit, also served intercity routes on Dundas Street, and Hurontario Street, both being semi-rural provincial highways before the construction of present freeways such as Highways 401, 403, and 410.
- Malton was served by the TTC's contracted 58 Malton bus until 2014, when the route was replaced by the TTC's 52 Lawrence West route. Local services in Malton were provided since 1969 and expanded after 1973.
Mississauga Transit was rebranded MiWay on October 4, 2010. New MiWay-branded hybrid buses entered service, with orange MiLocal buses on local routes and blue MiExpress buses on express routes. Advertisements were placed on buses and shelters in September 2010 to introduce users to the new branding. Older buses using the old logo would continue to be used until they are decommissioned. Service levels did not change with the rebranding.
The reason for the company's new name is twofold: "Mi" could be interpreted as standing for Mississauga, and it is also a homophone for "My", suggesting possession.
By December 1, 2011, MiWay's bus fleet was fully low-floor and accessible. As of October 22, 2012, bus stop pads have been put at all MiWay bus stops. This allowed the entire system to become fully accessible.
Beginning in 2016, the City of Mississauga's logo was updated, and most buses, had the new logo applied over the old one, and all buses ordered from 2016 onwards had the new city logo.
On April 29, 2019, 24-hour service was introduced on four bus routes.
In October 2023, MiWay began phasing out the blue MiExpress buses in their fleet by repainting existing vehicles to the standard MiWay orange livery and painting newly purchased hybrid-electric buses orange.
Services
Local Transit
MiWay operates over 60 fixed-route bus routes. Services are divided into three categories, Milocal, MiExpress, and high school routes. All buses are wheelchair-accessible.TTC-contracted route
One Toronto Transit Commission route, 52B/52D Lawrence West, is operated by the TTC contracted on behalf of the City of Mississauga. The fare payment method is the same as for regular MiWay buses: via a Presto card, contactless credit or debit card, or cash. As a result of the provincial One Fare program, transfers between the two systems are now free, and a second fare is no longer charged for passengers riding to or from Toronto provided that the customer uses Presto, credit or debit card within two hours of paying the initial fare.From 2002 to 2010, another route 32B Eglinton West, operated to Explorer Drive in a similar arrangement.
Rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
The Mississauga Transitway is a mostly grade-separated twelve-stop bus rapid transit line running across Mississauga East-West alongside or on Highway 403 and Eglinton Avenue, passing through the City Centre. MiExpress services as well as GO Transit regional bus services utilise the transitway. The line also connects to buses to Pearson Airport at Renforth station.Rider Experience
Accessibility
MiWay operates low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. The last high-floor bus was retired on December 1, 2011. A separate transit service for the disabled called Transhelp is operated by the Peel Regional Municipality.Schedules
Mississauga Transit's paper "Ride Schedules" were discontinued in 2004. From 2005 onward, all timetables were only available from the system's website.Schedules and trip planning are available via Triplinx, a Metrolinx-provided tool for transit services in the GTHA.
Fares
MiWay's cash fare is $4.50 for riders aged 13+ without a Presto card. Customers can also pay their MiWay bus fare by tapping a contactless credit or debit card on the Presto fare reader and the current adult cash fare price is deducted. Presto cards have been accepted throughout the entire MiWay system since May 30, 2011. Since July 29, 2019, riders can also use their Presto cards to pay both their MiWay and Toronto Transit Commission fares on [|TTC-operated bus routes] 52B and 52D. Credit and debit cards including those loaded on mobile wallets are accepted on the Presto reader as of August 11, 2022. A fare of $4.50 is deducted. Children ages 0-12 can ride all MiWay bus routes fare-free when travelling with an accompanying adult. Seniors ages 65+ must tap a valid senior Presto card to ride the MiWay bus for free, otherwise they would need to pay the full cash fare. Additionally, children travelling alone must also tap a valid child Presto card when boarding the MiWay bus.Cash-paying customers can ask the bus driver for a printed paper transfer after depositing a cash fare into the fare box. For customers paying a single-ride fare by Presto card or credit or debit card, an electronic transfer is automatically stored on their card after their initial tap-on.
Transfers are valid for two hours on any route in any direction, including those to and from other GTHA transit service providers such as; Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Oakville Transit, Milton Transit and York Regional Transit from the time of issue. Additionally customers who pay their fares by Presto, credit or debit card can also transfer between MiWay and Toronto Transit Commission services for free within 2 hours of paying the initial fare. However this does not apply to paper transfers.
Presto card fares
Other fares and fees
Presto programs
In 2007, MiWay was the first test site for the new Presto card; Presto was adopted across the entire MiWay system in May 2011. Since launching the Presto card in Mississauga, MiWay has issued more than 9,000 cards; as of 2012, they were being used for more than 2.4million trips within the system. MiWay offers two programs exclusively for Presto cardholders:- GO Transit co-fare: Since March 14, 2022, Customers who pay their fares by Presto or contactless credit and debit card and transfer from GO Transit onto connecting MiWay buses get free admission so long as the customer swipes a Presto, credit or debit card on the Presto fare readers onto the connecting MiWay bus within the 3-hour transfer window. Passengers transferring from MiWay to GO Transit services will also be reimbursed the difference between the MiWay fare and the co-fare upon disembarking from GO Transit.
- Loyalty program : When Presto cardholders have paid for 12 regular MiWay fares in a calendar week, they are able to ride for free for the rest of the week. This program does not cover GO Transit co-fares and fares paid on other systems. The weekly ride count resets to zero on Mondays.
Smart Commute discount program
| Employer discount | City discount | Total discount | Monthly pass cost |
| - | - | - | $132.00 |
| 15% | 5% | 20% | $105.60 |
| 25% or more | 15% | 40% or more | $79.20 or less |
Operations
Operations are funded by the city's municipal government, which allocates tax revenues to the transit operator. In 2022, the city allocated almost $90 million for Miway's budget.MiWay's bus drivers, garage maintenance, and service workers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1572
Transit Enforcement Services
Mississauga Transit Enforcement Officers are members of the City's Corporate Security Team. They are designated as Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and are responsible for:- Patrolling the MiWay system
- Maintaining the integrity of the fare system by conducting inspections in fare-access areas
- Deterring crime and anti-social behaviour
- Maintaining a presence at City Centre Transit Terminal
- Providing customer service throughout the system
- Providing emergency first aid where applicable
- Enforcing City of Mississauga Transit By-Law 425-03 on Transit properties
- Liaising with other Transit Enforcement Agencies