St. Lawrence County Public Transportation (slcnypublictransit.com), operated by The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence is celebrating 20 years of service to the county. In October 2004, the system began with just two routes servicing St. Lawrence County. As of 2024, the number of routes has increased to 15 traveling to and from the county’s five population centers and surrounding areas. 

The SLC Public Transit system is the only one of its kind in the county. Ridership declined by 20% in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the system has since recovered and is consistently providing record numbers of trips. In 2023, SLC Public Transit provided 134,322 one-way trips and traveled 986,936 miles. In the first half of 2024, ridership has grew by another 9%. SLC Public Transit works in partnership with the Volunteer Transportation Center based in Watertown to provide the First Mile Last Mile connector service and Rides to Recovery service for those recovering from addiction. 

Since 2017, SLC Public Transit has expanded service to include SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, and Clarkson University, the Massena and Akwesasne region, as well as more remote areas like Stockholm, Parishville, and Brasher. The bus fleet features bike racks, accessibility options and has been upgraded to provide riders complimentary WiFi. The buses have also been outfitted with GPS units that allow riders to track their buses in real time with the Passio GO! app. 

SLC Public Transit has also made great efforts to improve bus stop areas. Covered shelters have been installed at the Harold B. Smith Building in Canton, in Potsdam across from the Roxy Theater on Main Street and along Munson Street, in Massena at the Community Center on Beech Street, and at the Housing Authority Complex on Robinson Road, and in Madrid at the Hepburn Library on Church Street. 

St. Lawrence County Public Transit stops at more than 50 locations across the county. Fares are $2 each way and our buses are fully accessible. Information for riders can be found on the website at slcnypublictransit.comor by contacting the SLC Public Transit office at 315- 386-2600. Find us on Facebook and Instagram @SLCNYPublicTransit for additional information and updates.