The number one complaint noted in a recent survey of Belleville Transit riders was that it took too long to reach destinations.
As it stands on weekdays, during regular working hours, some of the bus routes take up to an hour to complete.
A consultant’s report recommends moving some bus stops and eliminating others to speed routes up.
Transit Committee Chair Councillor Kathryn Brown says the recommendation directly deals with the results of the rider survey.
” … that they would be willing to walk a little bit further if it meant the route would occur faster, that was overwhelmingly the feedback.”
The report is recommending a more direct route system bringing the length of trips to a maximum of half an hour on all routes.
Thirty minute service would also occur during peak periods to the city’s industrial area while off-peak run times would be 60 minutes to the industrial park.
Weekday evenings and weekend routes would remain on a 60-minute service. The consultants call for 15 buses to run on weekdays during the daytime. Currently, 13 buses are on the streets at that time.
The recommended route system would cover 90% of the urban area of the city, however, one area that will continue to be without transit service will be the Potters Creek housing development in the far west end of Belleville.
Brown says the full-size buses can’t make turns on existing small side streets but the situation could change if a road link is created from dead-ended Sienna Avenue heading west to Avonlough Road. That area has yet to be developed but has been approved for housing construction.
Brown says council might want to consider running smaller buses to service the existing housing in that area.
Changes to an adult/student/senior pass system are also recommended by the consultants. The fare for cash payment would be the same for everyone. Currently in the works are a free pass system for high school students and a U-Pass for interested Loyalist College students.
The Transit Advisory Committee will further study the report next month and recommendations are expected to go to council for discussion and possible decision in August.
Meanwhile total ridership on Belleville Transit buses in May totalled 123,299, a sizeable jump from the 88,419 riders in May of last year.
Consultant’s recommended new route system. (Screenshot Belleville Transit Advisory Committee agenda June 19/23)
