Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, provided opening remarks and introduced Tamas Hertel, Manager, Service Planning, York Region Transit who presented the 2025 York Region Transit Initiatives. The presentation included a summary of 2024 service improvements, the annual review process, public feedback as well as an overview of the initiatives planned for 2025.
The Committee thanked Mr. Hertel for the presentation and discussed the following:
- The way in which the one fare program is administered;
- How a door to door ride for seniors is determined where there is no fixed route available;
- The feasibility to reinstate the Go station shuttle bus service, such as the Unionville Go shuttle bus;
- Concerns with the service levels, accessibility and lighting around the Cornel Bus Terminal;
- The infrastructure needed to accommodate the increase in population in the coming years; and,
- How service can be extended to new communities and how those decisions are made.
The Committee heard a deputation from Joszef Zerczi, who expressed support for the return of Go bus shuttles to assist commuters who use the Go trains.
Mr. Hertel responded to the inquiries and noted that the Go shuttle buses have not been reinstated due to the current service levels which have not yet returned to pre Covid-19 levels. He further noted that the Region meets with City planning staff regularly and that they are aware of new developments as they happen to continually assess transit needs.