Region to pen province over residents being ‘left behind’ by GO

The Region of Waterloo is set to pen the province with a request for a boost to local GO service.

The issue was raised during this week’s Planning and Works Committee meeting with region Chair Karen Redman saying she’s been fielding complaints the service has been leaving some would-be riders stranded.

“Constituents are being left behind because GO busses are full and the transit service doesn’t seem to be meeting [the need] with its capacity,” Redman told fellow committee members.

She suggested consent be given for her to send a letter to the provincial government suggesting local service be expanded.

“We look at post-secondary institutions, people returning to jobs, people returning to home and to their families, and it just has become… less than reliable.”

Coun. Colleen James, meantime, also suggested the letter include a specific reference to weekend train service as well.

In a statement, Metrolinx, which is responsible for the operation of GO Transit, said it does keep a close eye on schedules and ridership.

It also said, in the interim, it is switching to double-decker GO buses for all Route 30 trips between Kitchener and the Bramalea GO station so as to maximize capacity, and “we will do our best to provide extra buses on the route when available.”