By Pepper Parr
October 31st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The 600 page agenda that Council members are going to have to get through in two days has an interesting item.
For a small structure, the John Street transit station has had a huge impact on the development of high-rise towers in the downtown core.
Relocation of the Burlington Transit Terminal
Direct the Director of Burlington Transit to proceed with relocating the Burlington Transit Bus Terminal from 430 John Street to the Burlington GO Station, located at 2101 Fairview Street; and
Direct the Manager of Realty Services to proceed in accordance with the instructions sought in the confidential transit department report.
The immediate question is why?
Really???? The aldershot station, the fairview station and the appleby station have had stabbings over the summer. My senior friends are continuing to feel more vulnerable downtown, myself included. These citizen walks are all well and good but it hasn’t helped. We need a full-time police presence downtown. Maybe some undercover police so l won’t have to stay in at night and having to look over my shoulder.
Editor’s note: There once was a downtown police office on Brant street. They cut it as a cost savings measure.
I should have asked that residents who feel that the Transit Terminal should not be relocated to send an email to the Mayor, and all the Councillors indicating this. This is coming up for discussion on Monday, November 4th.
When I read the agenda item concerning the “Relocating the John Street transit station to the GO Station on Fairview Street my first thought was WHY?
The report indicates some of the reasons why “Designing and delivering complete communities, Providing best services and experience, Protecting and Improving the natural environment and taking action on climate change, Driving organizational performance”.
It goes on and on why this building needs to go – structural issues, not meeting standards etc. etc. Supposedly at this point in time “there will be no change in bus routes”.
I have to wonder how many hours were spent coming up with the reasons for relocating this Transit Terminal when only a few years ago it was designated as an MTSA?
WHAT was not taken into effect was the fact that the region has a subsidized apartment building for seniors as well as apartments for Community Living at 410 John Street who use the public transit system regularly. Also the fact that there are many seniors living in the area and depend on this transit terminal to purchase their presto cards and get bus schedule information.
CITY staff indicate that people can purchase Presto Cards at any SHOPPERS Drug Store – ( no shoppers drug store is located near the terminal), or they can go to the Fairview Street GO to Station ( when this building is relocated), (how are they to get there) or go online and purchase and reload their Presto Card.
There is still a large demographic of residents especially in this area where the John Street transit terminal is located who don’t have a smart phone, and aren’t tech savvy to go online.
At the very least a location needs to be found right in the area to sell Presto Cards and access information for the residents who use the transit service.
WHY is this considered to be a “confidential Item”, probably because it is only” in camera” that the cost to get rid of the current structure, lease space in the Fairview Go Station, etc. will have to be discussed.
With the money being spent by this City to revamp Civic Square, The Robert Bateman School, Skyway Arena etc. one would think they could find tax dollar savings in other areas rather than take away a much used Transit Terminal in a downtown core where multiple high-rise buildings will be bringing more people into this area.
Relocating the small but mighty bus terminal will discourage people who live in the downtown to use public transit
Many are new to Burlington and the downtown and need to be able access, in person, information on public transportation
Reconsider this relocation
Is the question why is the transit report confidential or why is the transit station moving?