Regional council is on board with exploring the idea of a single Niagara bus line.

Port Colborne mayor Vance Badawey formally pitched looking at amalgamating St. Catharines, Niagara Falls & Welland Transit at regional council's Thursday night meeting.

Badawey says its time for a bus service that all of Niagara's 400 000 people can use--whether it be for work, fun or healthcare.

The region will facilitate discussions between local bus companies big and small & stakeholders with a report coming back to council by March 2013.

Badawey thinks a regional bus service is key to Niagara securing permanent, year-round GO train service.

He acknowledges amalgamated transit would likely mean some job losses in management ranks.  He expects jobs of those providing service would stay the same, since the level of service wouldn't drop.