04-06-2018, 08:03 AM
One thing the GRT staff made abundantly clear was that the proposed changes to the GRT network would not be done in phases. The new GRT network will go live when the Ion goes live. Yes, the 205 would launch in April, but the rest of the changes would happen all at once ("ripping the band-aid off" was the phrase used).
Given that the GRT consultations don't end until April 11 and it would take staff at least a month to analyze the data, update the plan with changes, and write a council report, the earliest council could sign off of the GRT plan would be the May 29, 2018 planning and works meeting. GRT would then have to get all the work orders in to get all the physical preparations done for the big switch (plus re-do staffing schedules, etc.) which is at least 2 months work (probably more given the magnitude of some of the changes).
September 2018 is the earliest I could possible see a launch of Ion and GRT changes.
Given that the GRT consultations don't end until April 11 and it would take staff at least a month to analyze the data, update the plan with changes, and write a council report, the earliest council could sign off of the GRT plan would be the May 29, 2018 planning and works meeting. GRT would then have to get all the work orders in to get all the physical preparations done for the big switch (plus re-do staffing schedules, etc.) which is at least 2 months work (probably more given the magnitude of some of the changes).
September 2018 is the earliest I could possible see a launch of Ion and GRT changes.
Everyone move to the back of the bus and we all get home faster.