CITY OF BARRIE roAD work & INNISFIL Roads & TRANSIT: 1)Barrie roads getting fresh stripes: overnight lane painting now underway citywide; 2)section of Huronia road to be closed for 4 months; 3)6th Line of Innisfil tops CAA’s 2026 list of Worst Roads in Central Region; 4)Innisfil Transit dropping hub system in favour of new distance-based pricing model
1)Barrie roads getting fresh stripes: overnight lane painting now underway citywide
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By City of Barrie, June 1, 2026
The City of Barrie’s pavement marking contractor has started the annual painting of road lane markings and arrows across Barrie. This includes white lane lines, bike lanes, and yellow centre lines and turning arrows. This work takes place each year to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Work is now underway and is expected to continue for approximately six weeks. The painting typically takes place overnight, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Intersection painting, which includes stop bars and crosswalks, will also take place over the next few months and will run until October.
Drivers are reminded to obey all posted signs and drive cautiously through active work zones.
For more information on city road and sidewalk maintenance, visit barrie.ca/RoadMaintenance.
2)Section of Huronia Road to be closed for four months for culvert and sewer work
Courtesy Barrie 360.com and News Release
By City of Barrie, May 31, 2026
Contractors will be implementing a full closure of Huronia Road between Lockhart Road to McKay Road from June 1 to September 30. The closure is required to complete two culvert installations and deep sanitary sewer work along Huronia Road.
Access to businesses and residents within the closure will be maintained at all times. Through traffic will not be permitted during the closure. Access for emergency services will be maintained throughout the construction period. McKay Road East, from Veterans Drive to Huronia Road, will also remain closed to through traffic, with local access only from Veterans Drive, until the end of 2026.
Detour routes will be in place during the closure. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and follow posted signage.
This work is part of the City of Barrie’s Multi‑Modal Active Transportation Master Plan, which identifies Huronia Road as a key corridor needed to support growth to 2031.
3)6th Line of Innisfil tops CAA’s 2026 list of Worst Roads in Central Region
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Staff, June 4, 2026
Ontarians have made their voices heard: Barton Street East in Hamilton has been named the 2026 CAA Worst Road in Ontario, marking the third time the roadway has taken the top spot.
The annual ranking, based on feedback from thousands of drivers across the province, highlights roads that residents say require urgent attention. While Hamilton’s Barton Street East led the provincial list, concerns are being felt closer to home in Central Ontario, where several local roads also ranked among the worst.
6th Line of Innisfil leads Central Region list
In the Central Region – which includes Barrie, Simcoe County, and Muskoka – 6th Line in Innisfil was ranked the worst road for 2026 (it also cracked the Top Ten for all of Ontario).
The Central Region top five includes:
6th Line — Innisfil
20th Sideroad — Innisfil
Fraserburg Road — Bracebridge
Laclie Street — Orillia
Huronia Road — Barrie
These roads were identified by drivers who regularly experience issues such as potholes, poor maintenance, and uneven surfaces — concerns echoed across the province.
Drivers demand action on infrastructure
“The CAA Worst Roads campaign gives Ontarians a voice and helps shine a light on the roads that need attention most,” says Brian Pirvu, government relations consultant for CAA South Central Ontario. “When people speak up, it helps drive action and ensures governments understand where investments are needed to keep communities safe and moving.”
Across Ontario, road users cited deteriorating conditions as a key safety concern, with many noting the impact on vehicles, commute times, and overall quality of life.
“Reliable infrastructure isn’t just about convenience; it’s about safety, affordability and quality of life,” says Pirvu. “Investing in roads helps reduce repair costs for drivers and ensures people can get where they need to go safely.”
Toronto roads dominate provincial list
While smaller communities saw several roads highlighted, urban centres continue to face significant challenges. Four of the province’s top 10 worst roads are located in Toronto, underscoring ongoing infrastructure strain in high-traffic areas.
The Top 10 Worst Roads in Ontario for 2026 are:
Barton Street East, Hamilton
Hurontario Street, Mississauga
Notre Dame Avenue, Greater Sudbury
Sider Road, Fort Erie
Steeles Avenue East, Toronto
Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto
Panache Lake Road, Greater Sudbury
Bathurst Street, Toronto
Unwin Avenue, Toronto
6th Line, Innisfil
Campaign influences government priorities
CAA says the annual campaign is designed to do more than rank roadways — it aims to influence decision-makers and prioritize infrastructure investments where they are needed most.
“CAA will continue to advocate for stable, predictable investment in road maintenance and long-term solutions to address Ontario’s growing infrastructure needs,” adds Pirvu.
The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO), which verifies the rankings, emphasized the broader impact of deteriorating infrastructure.
“People across Ontario have spoken. The CAA Worst Roads campaign gives voice to residents who experience firsthand the impact that deteriorating roads and aging infrastructure have on our lives daily,” says Nadia Todorova, executive director at RCCAO. “The results underscore the importance of sustained investment in state-of-good-repair infrastructure.”
4)Innisfil Transit dropping hub system in favour of new distance-based pricing model
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Town of Innisfil, June 4, 2026
Starting July 1, the Town of Innisfil’s public transit system will change to a distance-based pricing structure. Established in 2017, Innisfil Transit allows Innisfil residents and visitors to pay a subsidized rate when booking an Uber trip.
When the Town first brought public transit to Innisfil, the challenge was to provide a reliable system for residents that was flexible enough to service the long distances between settlement areas while remaining cost-effective. The Town’s innovative solution was a partnership with Uber, allowing the local community the option to travel for work, school, errands, and play at a lower cost.
“It’s been almost 10 years since we established Innisfil Transit. We know people like it and are using it, but we’ve also heard how our community wishes the system was more flexible,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “With the coming changes, residents will be able to enjoy the Town’s subsidy when travelling all across Town. Also, families and friends will now be able to travel together—something that wasn’t possible with the previous Hubs-based system.”
Changing to a distance-based pricing structure means that Innisfil Transit will no longer use “Transit Hubs.” Instead, the Town will cover up to $10 of a rider’s trip as long as it’s within Innisfil’s borders. Trips between Innisfil and Barrie South or Bradford GO Stations will also enjoy this subsidy to support commuters transferring to GO Transit.
How it works:
Rider books their “Innisfil Transit” trip on the Uber app
A minimum flat fee is applied to the trip (for a single rider, it is $3.25)
The Town covers the rest of the trip’s cost up to $10
Groups of up to four passengers will also be able to use Innisfil Transit for the first time with the use of a Multi-passenger Voucher, available on the Town’s website. This is an exciting new addition to the system that allows families and friends to travel together without having to pay for separate trips. The cost-structure for multi-passenger trips is the same, with an initial minimum flat fee of $6.50.
All changes will come into effect on July 1. Even though Innisfil Transit will remain a Hubs-based system until June 30, the Town encourages all users to visit innisfil.ca/transit now to familiarize themselves with the upcoming changes, download the Multi-passenger Voucher, and learn about the Teen Transit Pilot.