Two GRT bus routes cancelled without public consultation, Waterloo Mayor suggests change to process

Two bus routes will be discontinued in the Region of Waterloo, pending approval from council.

Tuesday’s Regional Planning and Works Committee meeting saw a recommendation from staff to cancel Route 73 Northlake and Route 2 Stirling due to low ridership on both bus routes. Councillors were given the option to either extend Route 34 to cover areas on Route 2, or to do nothing, and discontinue both routes. They opted for the first choice, cushioning the blow for residents in the Forest Hills area.

Grand River Transit regularly reviews all bus routes and keeps a lot of data. According to the staff report, the region could save almost $2 million by the end of 2024 by discontinuing both routes.

Mayor of Waterloo and Regional Councillor Dorothy McCabe told CityNews 570 in an interview that the decision itself is not what she is concerned about. It was the lack of community engagement.

“Public consultation is critically important,” said McCabe. “Going forward, before we discontinue any routes, what I was asking is that we do public consultation in advance of any decision.”

A public information session Monday saw multiple residents join the call to air out their concerns about the cancellation of the routes.

“There were a lot of people on that call,” said McCabe. “A lot more certainly than I expected and a lot of concerns raised. Whether it’s a few people complaining or a lot of people complaining, my issue with [the decision] remains the same.”

McCabe added that it’s nothing to do with making cuts to transit, making note of the 40,000 more bus hours in Cambridge, thanks to regional investment.

She explained why she strongly believes in the effectiveness and significance of public outreach.

“We really encourage all voices to come to the table. It does help us understand the importance of our services and programs for residents. We really need to hear from residents and what’s important to them to know where we are meeting the mark and where maybe we need to make changes.”

Another public information session on Route 2 will take place before council votes on whether or not to approve the changes to the routes. Regional Council will finalize the decision on June 21.