GRT Route 21 to continue
Posted Mar 9, 2011 01:13:44 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The pilot project for bus service between Elmira and Conestoga Mall in Waterloo is set to get a longer ride.
A Regional Council committee approved extending the Route 21 project to December 31 of this year.
The Region’s Commissioner of Planning, Housing and Community Services, Rob Horne told the committee there are a few reasons they want to give the project more time, including doing some additional marketing to bolster ridership.
A staff report on Route 21 says ridership has been doing well: there was an average of 309 daily riders last year compared to 245 the year before. The bus has also hit or surpassed its target of 25 riders getting on board per hour on a number of occasions.
Horne says they also want to extend the pilot project timeline because the new GRT business plan starting this year will include a rural transit plan.
Also, Woolwich Township council has shared some concern about what kind of financial impact the bus route would have on its residents’ taxes.
Horne says Woolwich Township is also curious about bus service to Breslau, so they want more discussion time on that.
The Council committee approved the extension, it still has to be approved at the next full council meeting.
