Press Release |
Update on GO TRANSIT here
For Immediate Release March 11, 2010
GO TRANSIT BUS CANCELLATIONS
(Queen’s Park) The following letter by Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees was distributed today to all York Region Mayors and Councils:
Dear Mayor,
GO Transit has announced that it plans to cancel two GO Bus routes serving York Region, effective next month.
The two routes affected are the 62-Newmarket B GO Bus that provides services along Yonge Street from Newmarket to York Mills, and the GO Route 64, providing service through York Region to York University.
At a public meeting on March 9, 2010 attended by more than 300 York Region residents, representatives from GO Transit and YRT/VIVA confirmed that the proposed cancellation would result in increased costs of as much as $85.00 per month, and increased travel times of as much as one to two hours per day, depending on the alternative VIVA service that would be available. In addition, there are numerous unintended consequences that would result if the cancellations are allowed to proceed. Those consequences range from safety implications for young people who rely on these routes to get them to school, and scheduling issues for students and faculty at York University, to working parents who will be unable to manage already difficult daycare schedules.
I have expressed my concern on behalf of my constituents to Mr. Robert Prichard, the CEO of Metrolinx and to York Region Chair, Bill Fisch and am asking for your support to ensure that both of these GO bus services are continued.
It is clear that YRT/VIVA is not in a position to assume responsibility for the services GO Transit is planning to cancel. YRT/VIVA is a regional service and is not equipped to provide what has been an inter-regional express transit service. They neither have the equipment, nor the scheduling capacity to accept this download of service responsibility.
It is unacceptable that at a time when governments at all levels are investing billions in public transit with a view to encouraging transit use, that we allow this proposed cancellation to take place. Not only will the increased costs and travel times discourage transit use, this contradicts and is in conflict with the very goals and objectives of the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan which is intended to guide transportation decision-making and planning at all levels.
Those objectives are clearly stated to provide: “Improved transportation experience and travel time reliability, faster, more frequent and less crowded transit, improved connections on service within the GTHA . . “
I trust that you will agree with me that the proposed cancellations are not only inconsistent with the Metrolinx mandate, they run counter to our concerted efforts to encourage York Region residents to choose public transit as a more convenient and affordable way to travel.
I am therefore asking you and your Council to register with Metrolinx and GO Transit your opposition to the planned cancellation of these essential GO Bus services.
Sincerely,
Frank Klees, MPP
Newmarket-Aurora -30-
References:Frank Klees, MPP
416 509 8999