York Region Transit Needs Grass Roots Input

York Region Transit Needs Help

York Region Transit has been missing the mark for far too long and the last thing they needed was more routes to manage, however with the completion of Davis Drive finally on the horizon we can look forward to that very possibility, after somehow miscalculating the time and costs by 10's of millions of dollars. Tally-Ho. $300,000,000 and counting @ $1 million dollars per bus shelter.


That said, what to do with what we do have, especially since the government's plan to push people out of their cars and into transit seems to be failing, or at least is extremely premature. That's what happens when a town is being lead by a Region which acts conditional to ( Ont / Fed) funding and which is calling the shots on what's actually getting built locally. Did anyone even realize that the terms "sustainable growth" and all of that ilk come from the UN's 2030 plan? Well it does and as we blindly follow it, it's apparent were far to early to keep up with the UN plan of rolling out transit in 2016-17 as well as more "sustainable" "intensification" and "sustainable development".

Meantime what can we do to contain the costs? Trim the fat is a start! York Region Transit has the worst connecting buses I've ever seen, having used it fairly extensively during my campaign, thinking it would be convenient for door to door flyers delivery, but that was a mistake!

Regular Bus route to Main and Water St only runs once per hour and stops at 8 pm

Routes claiming to run every hour actually running every hour and 15 which then made riders miss connecting buses was common thus a run that should take 10 minutes taking an hour and a half at times. Also jumping out at me was the dual service on Davis drive with the new Viva 404 route running virtually the same route as the 55A. 

With one stroke I'd propose to the transit eliminate $300,000 and that's based on brief observation of an obvious flaw - I could look over to the other also fairly empty bus en-route.


I think a board or a committee that includes grass roots riders and drivers should be struck to better service the routes or fine tune some as I believe there are multitudes of savings more to be had.

Add in some Bike Share at these shelter points as well and that may assist with closer connections instead of a person waiting an hour to travel 10 minutes by motorized vehicle. family and day passes should also be made available as not everyone can afford monthly passes nor want to jump through welfare hoops to get access.

GO Bus / train service still seems a confusing intermix with York Transit, often causing people to pay extra fares to go the same distance within the transfer system from one system to another seems confusing for most and and needs rectifying.

Even if the add GO Train service at Mulock Drive as is being sought at this time, that will not eliminate the YRT users who need get there still and also those looking tio travel to the north part of Toronto use the Go so the dilemma will continue.

Amalgamate the system and stream-line it because right now its a waste case losing millions of dollars annually likely!

Tom Pearson

I Really Do Care

Seniors Needs On Main St. Newmarket

As I've traveled the streets during my door to door campaign, I've noticed that the concerns are quite varied, and depending on the resident's personal situation, that usually dictated what their main concerns were.

Seniors

With seniors living near Main St. South for example, the feeling was exasperation when the last bank closed up.

An older gent almost literally stumbled upon me as I stood outside what used to be the Bank of Montreal before stopping and realizing it was no longer there!

Geez this is terrible. Where do they expect seniors to go? There's nothing on Main St anymore for seniors and I've had to move away. No doctors office, no place to shop what do they expect seniors to do? Then I have to find a ride..." his voice trails off.

So what about the seniors? there are a fair number within walk shot of Main but with less and less reason to come and a budget for many they need catered to as well. transportation costs savings alone are a big deal for some.

So I'm hearing seniors want grocery shopping, doctors offices, a bank. Well the latter may be tough, but perhaps a credit union could be sought and little whispers tell me a grocers may be going in where the Bank Of Montreal is moving out of which would be good. 

I'd love to see fruit markets spring up along with the grocers and see know reason something can't be coordinated. My plan promises that I would be proactive to seek out good fits for Main St and this would be one such endeavour should the grocery store no pan our as well as look into the possibility of doctors offices or drop in clinics.

I've been know to fight for the rights of seniors and the disabled in the past and have no plans to turn my back on anyone should I be elected.

In addition, to help keep a grocer in business I will at ways of introducing a home grocery delivery service system for local area seniors, using a model of a successful running program in Quebec.

I'm Tom Pearson and....

I Really Do Care.