GO BUS REVAMP COULD BOOST TRANSIT OPTIONS

Proposed rerouting of the 15A GO Bus from McMaster University through Dundas along York Road to Aldershot would be an easy victory for local provincial politicians, benefitting local transit, the environment and underserved neighbourhoods, said Dundas resident Brian Baetz.

Extending GO Bus service is an election issue facing both Flamborough-Glanbrook incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Donna Skelly and her challengers, as well as West Hamilton-Ancaster-Dundas incumbent NDP MPP Sandy Shaw and her

challengers — addressing both climate change and public transit.

The proposal submitted in April 2021 by Baetz, a McMaster University civil engineering professor, and student Adam Chojecki, has been under review by Metrolinx staff for more than a year.

Baetz said the McMaster-Aldershot GO Bus rerouting through Dundas is a simple idea that will address several provincial and local issues at no extra cost to the provincial government or local taxpayers.

He expects it would reduce traffic on York Road, including the significant corridor linking Cootes Paradise to Niagara Escarpment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide access to a variety of public transit options to areas that are currently underserved — or not served at all.

"I see this as an easy win," Baetz said.

Baetz pointed out the simple idea that requires no new cost or infrastructure, other than perhaps a new GO Bus stop sign, would bring new transit services to Dundas — in two provincial ridings.

It would link the area to the Aldershot GO Train, with service to Toronto and other areas across Ontario.

The proposed route provides Dundas residents with connections not only to GO Train service, but also VIA Rail service at Aldershot, and McMaster University's proposed Light Rail Transit hub.

"It's a such a slam dunk," Baetz said. "In engineering, we rarely get such easy solutions."

Baetz and student Nicole Graziano developed the original plan to reroute the 15A GO Bus back and forth on York Road between McMaster and Aldershot.

Metrolinx analyzed the proposal, and determined eliminating a Main Street West stop would reduce total boardings and found a slight increase in travel time.

Baetz questioned those concerns — suggesting those boarding at Main and Haddon Avenue could simply

board at McMaster. He said the proposal needed political pressure, and community support.

Then-student Adam

Chojecki suggested the clockwise loop, leaving McMaster via Cootes Drive to Olympic and the Watson's Lane HSR loop stop,

north on York Road to Highway 6 and 403 to Aldershot, returning to McMaster via the 403 and Main Street West.

That maintained the Haddon stop and did not add extra travel time, while adding the additional Dundas stop on York Road, connected to the HSR turnaround.

"The two Metrolinx arguments are washed away," Baetz said. "I don't think there are tangible arguments against the plan."

He rode his bike to the Watson's Lane Loop stop from his home in central Dundas, near the Lions Memorial Community Centre, and said it was an easy 12-minute ride.

Mark Ferguson, senior research associate at McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics, said the revised, clockwise loop proposal makes a lot of sense.

"The fact that some of the neighbourhoods along this route are not currently served by transit is a significant consideration," Ferguson said. "Apart from that, I like the eastbound route as a quick way to exit McMaster and potentially avoid some Highway 403 congestion. The sensible eastbound route combined with the better access to potential passengers seems to make for a very worthwhile opportunity."

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