'This is about moving people': Regions top politician calls for more transit services
Waterloo Region’s top politician has urged the Ford government for action and details on its plans for two-way, all-day GO train service to Kitchener in an open letter following complaints from stranded passengers.
On Thursday, a letter from regional chair Karen Redman to Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s minister of transportation, and Stan Cho, the associate minister, outlined the concerns over frequency and capacity for intercity transit service.
“People felt they were being left behind, they were seeing buses go past because they were overfull so, I sent a letter to minister Mulroney,” said Redman. “We need this transportation — people depend on it.”
The letter outlines three key areas of concern:
- An updated timeline to deliver on two-way, all day GO train service on the Kitchener Line
- The province expand GO bus service to centres like Hamilton, Guelph and Brantford
- A discussion on commitments to a Breslau GO station an GO train service to Cambridge via the Fergus subdivision
MORE BUSES
Earlier this week, Metrolinx, which operates GO Transit, announced it would be expanding bus service from Waterloo to Brampton.
GO bus service is being added on routes 30 and 31 for customers in Waterloo Region:
- Three new eastbound weekend trips will depart University of Waterloo at 9:17 a.m., 10:12 a.m., and 11:12 a.m., and arrive at Bramalea GO at 10:42 a.m., 11:42 a.m. and 12:42 p.m.
- Five new westbound weekend trips will depart Bramalea GO at 4:40 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m., and arrive at University of Waterloo at 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:05 p.m. and 10:05 p.m.
- Two new eastbound weekday trips will depart University of Waterloo at 3:18 p.m. and 4:18 p.m., and arrive at Bramalea GO at 5:03 p.m. and 6:03 p.m.
“I’m really pleased to see that there will be service starting this Saturday,” said Redman. “This is about moving people. This is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This isn’t just a good thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.”
One University of Waterloo student noted that all the new rides throughout the weekend appeared to be full.
"I came in September and I've been using the GO bus to Toronto, so I've noticed it's smooth and I like it," said Patrick. "The bus comes every hour and there's always people. It's always kind of full, so I think more buses will do."
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Waterloo MPP, Catherine Fife (NDP), brought the issue to Queen’s Park, asking Mulroney when residents could expect a weekend train to get to Kitchener on the Kitchener Line.
“The people of Kitchener and Waterloo are getting left behind by this government. I don’t mean figuratively, I mean literally,” said Fife in the legislature.
Rising to respond, Mulroney backed the government’s track record on transit.
“Kitchener-Waterloo is a growing area and that’s why Metrolinx is constantly monitoring service and ridership levels and that is why just recently we announced increased bus service,” said Mulroney. “While the demand was greater than we even though, the next day we added double decker buses to meet the demand.”
In an email to CTV News, Kitchener-Conestoga MPP, Mike Harris (PC), said pandemic disruptions are still impacting transit ridership and the province is committed to its transit expansion plan.
“We will continue to work closely with CN to incrementally increase service along core sections of the Kitchener corridor that are CN-owned,” read part of Harris’ statement.
The expansion of the Kitchener Line continues to provide 15 minute, two-way, all-day service meant to better serve residents in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph-Wellington and beyond.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
MPs to decide on Speaker Fergus' invite flub as Conservatives advance effort to oust him
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
Kitchener, Ont. woman with incurable cancer pushing province to cover rare cancer drug
A rare cancer treatment could potentially extend the life of an Ontario woman. The problem is, the province won’t approve the pricey drug.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.