Waterloo Region Connected

Full Version: Grand River Transit
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
GRT decision to cut Route 2 leaves parts of Kitchener without access to transit

Community members are upset Grand River Transit is cancelling an underused bus route in Kitchener, Ont. People who live along Route 2 say it's a lifeline to get to school, work, shopping and medical appointments.
You know, sometimes we have to make hard choices, so I understand where GRT is coming from.

But it seems that certain things are insulated from hard choices...policing, roads...when was the last time we decided to remove a road because it had only a few thousand users a day...what would the community backlash against that look like?
While I can understand the cold rationale of the decision, GRT should have expected community backlash from this and gotten ahead of it instead of being behind it. At the very least, alternates for service on Greenbrook; either or a shorter route, different endpoints, or reduced frequency should have been considered before making the decision to cut.
Grand River Transit may strike on Monday.

Quote:Beginning May 1, UNIFOR Local 4304, representing Grand River Transit and MobilityPLUS operators, MobilityPLUS reservationists, fleet mechanics and service attendants will be in a legal position to strike.

If there is a strike, GRT and MobilityPLUS buses will not run and as a result, customer service centres will be closed.

ION trains will continue to operate.

Transit customers are encouraged to plan ahead, find alternative transportation options and make careful decisions around fare purchasing.
(04-19-2023, 03:53 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]You know, sometimes we have to make hard choices, so I understand where GRT is coming from.

But it seems that certain things are insulated from hard choices...policing, roads...when was the last time we decided to remove a road because it had only a few thousand users a day...what would the community backlash against that look like?

Sometimes cuts like this are needed. But missing is context regarding Route 2.

Services were limited or non-existent in 2017 March to December, 2018 March to December, 2019 March to December, 2020 January-February and April to November, 2021 - Reduced all year and 2022 March to October.

This was, btw, because of the rebuild of Stirling that was done in sections between 2017 and 2022. Mill to Greenbrook isn't a long drive, yet this was 5 years of construction (2021 there was no work).

People serviced by this route really had no choice but to find alternative methods of transportation, whether that be by moving (some did) or purchasing cars. But you can't expect people to drop everything and start supporting a route like this immediately when it has its first full year of uninterrupted service in 7 years.
Quote:A tentative agreement has been reached between The Region of Waterloo and UNIFOR, Local 4304, representing Grand River Transit, busPLUS, MobilityPLUS operators, reservationists, fleet mechanics and service attendants.

While the Region remains optimistic that transit service will continue uninterrupted, the union remains in a legal position to strike as early as Monday May 1. We encourage customers to have alternate plans in place in the event of a disruption.

Hopefully they don't strike.
No buses tomorrow, there’s a strike.

Announced a tentative agreement today and then a strike at 10PM on a Sunday. The region and the union have no respect for citizens who need this to be reliable.

https://twitter.com/grt_row/status/1652854327084478465
Will the LRT still run? What about LRT bus replacement, if needed?
(04-30-2023, 10:51 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: [ -> ]Will the LRT still run? What about LRT bus replacement, if needed?

GRT tweets: Beginning, Monday, May 1, Grand River Transit buses will not run due to a strike. Customer Service Centres will be closed. ION trains will continue to operate. Visit http://grt.ca/updates for more information.
(04-30-2023, 10:51 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: [ -> ]Will the LRT still run? What about LRT bus replacement, if needed?

In the event that the LRT goes down I doubt there would be replacement because it's being done by GRT driver's not Keolis.
The 2020 strike lasted 11 days, during the coldest part of January. Any guesses on how long this one will be?
Ugh what a pain in the ass this will be.
(05-01-2023, 11:18 AM)KevinL Wrote: [ -> ]The 2020 strike lasted 11 days, during the coldest part of January. Any guesses on how long this one will be?

I still have a balance on my fare card from that strike.
Someone on Reddit posted this thread with a ridiculous question and it got me thinking: if someone crashed into the train or there was an outage for some reason, there'd be absolutely no way to get around the city while the strike is on since GRT comes in to operate the 301R buses when necessary. Hopefully we never run into that sort of situation.
lol what do you think the scooters are for?