On Monday, July 4, City Council was presented with the final draft of the Transit Master Plan.

The plan has been in the works since May 2015, when council approved moving forward with the strategy to streamline and improve the current transit system.

Council endorsed the recommendations that came after multiple public surveys were conducted and an open house was held in April, addressing concerns the public had over the Dial-a-Bus service and the lack of accessibility to bus stops. 

Currently, the transit network only covers approximately 41 per cent of urban areas with a walking distance of 400m or five minutes. The new plan will look to increase that number in multiple areas:

  • 400 metres to 90% of residences
  • 250 metres to 90% of medium and high density residential developments
  • 150 metres to major seniors' residences and activity centres
  • 600 metres to 90% of industrial land uses

Currently there are three fixed-routes which run every half hour during peak ride times and every hour during the off-peak times. To streamline and create a more productive and connective system, the routes will be revised to two perimeter routes that will travel in opposite directions every 30 minutes throughout the day.

Service along Main Street will be provided by extending Route 900 from the South Transit Terminal to the Gateway commercial area.

A new service the plan has outlined is called 'Dynamic Transit Service,' which will be an on demand service offered by telephone or app. A customer can use the app to indicate a pick-up and final destination and the system would create the efficient trip, including the opportunity for shared rides.

Dynamic transit will be considered an extension of the existing transit network and therefore the same transit fees will apply.

The implementation of these changes will take place over the next couple years, starting with the 2 fixed routes which will begin in quarter 2 of 2017.