A bus stop removed last fall in Bradford West Gwillimbury has been reinstated — for now — after a group of residents petitioned the town.
The town’s Committee of the Whole, which is made up of council members, voted last week for a temporary solution to create a “flex-route” for the stop outside the Southlake Academic Family Health Team on Holland Court.
“This is a short-term solution. We just can’t continue to do it. We’ll find a solution further down the road,” said Deputy Mayor James Leduc during the Feb. 5 meeting.
A flex-route — which will run for eastbound trips only — means anyone who wants to be picked up at the stop would have to call 905-775-7770 and select Option 1 during off-peak times: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or anytime Saturday.
A service agent at that phone number would confirm whether the trip can be made during the requested run.
For drop off, riders would have to tell the bus driver in advance of the Holland Court intersection they wanted to exit there.
It is expected it will take three or four weeks to get the route up and running once it is officially approved, according to a town staff report.
It will also cost the town $5,630 for a mileage increase, re-creation of promotional materials, and stop upgrades, including the removal of two or three parking spaces that currently impede the bus from pulling up right next to the curb, read the staff report.
BWG resident Malcolm Proudlock presented council Jan. 22 with a petition with 44 signatures, calling for the bus stop’s reinstatement.
“Why you took it away, we’re at a loss,” he said at the time.
According to a Town of BWG community services report dated Sept. 4, 2018, staff recommended removing the bus stop due to lack of use.
“The stop on Holland Court averaged 1.9 boardings per day through 2017, and one boarding per day in 2018,” read the report.
BWG Coun. Mark Contois suggested during last week’s meeting the town consider contacting a taxi service for the stop, such as Taxi-to-GO, which residents can book for shared rides to the Bradford GO Transit station.
Coun. Gary Baynes added the town should review BWG Transit as a whole, especially in light of how two new retirement residences fit into the system.
BWG council is expected to vote on the approval of a flex-route at its next meeting Feb. 19.
