A proposed plan to centralize the city’s transit service is a good one, bus riders who attended a public meeting on the plan said Tuesday.
GENIVAR, the group putting the city’s transit master plan together, held its first meeting on the preferred route and terminal system Tuesday at the CLE Coliseum. GENIVAR’s Dennis Fletcher said they want to hear from people how the route changes would affect them.
The plan is to have routes spread in concentric circles throughout the city with a main terminal located somewhere near intercity. Two north core routes would require another smaller terminal for passenger and driver amenities because those routes would stay on the north side of town.
Jeffrey Mehagan, one of 20 people at the meeting, is a north side resident who rides the bus at least twice a week. Based on what he’s seen of the plan so far, it looks good. He said a centrally located terminal makes sense. He also said the plan to have two north core routes could work.
“I think that’s fine. You don’t have to have every bus going to the same place all the time. I think trying to do that is silly in a city that’s as spread out and as large as this,” he said.
Fletcher said the plan is to have as few transfer points as possible while giving people a faster ride. Places like the south core would act as a quick transfer rather than a terminal where people have to sit and wait. Having a main terminal in the middle of the city would help decrease wait and transfer times.
Tracy Hurlbert said she likes the plan.
“I actually like that idea. Rather than having to wait at two different transfer pints having one in one area would be a good idea,” Hurlbert said.
Hurlbert, who is in a wheelchair and rides transit everyday, said she’s also curious to know what the city’s plans will be for complying with the province’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
“I do know that it’s going to mean better access for me,” Hurlbert said.
Rules and regulations under the act for municipal transit service will be a large part of the city’s transit plan Fletcher said. The draft report, with financial and implementation recommendations, will be coming to city council the first week of December.
Another meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. The city has also posted the plan update and a survey at www.thunderbay.ca/transit until Oct. 28.
