I heard some positive news at the VIVA/YRT public information meeting held in King on Monday. The 5 year plan includes developing a strategy for delivering a rural transit strategy. I consider this as positive as up until now there has been no consideration for providing transit to those who live rural; but, the consistent message from Mayor Pellegrini, myself and others have been heard. I believe the experience with our local 61 (the bus which meets 2 of the GO trains with rural passengers) has also caused transit leadership to think more creatively about the need. What a strategy for rural transit will be is far from clear; but as it needs to be sustainable for York Region to fund it, it will be a creative one with likely many types of transit. For example, it might include some sort of “dial-a-ride.” I also learned that the strategy for local 61 is being reviewed; the funding to continue it is there but there is a desire to make it more effective and efficient.
I also learned that VIVA/YRT is making some good interventions to improve accessibility. I was impressed to hear that when a customer makes arrangements with MobilityPlus that include an interface with TTC (Wheel-Trans), Mobility Plus (i.e. the YR service) makes the arrangement with the TTC whereas before the customer had to do so.
Here is the link to read information presented at the meeting. And you will see there contact information for providing any feedback.
I can vouch for the effectiveness of dial-a-ride in Oak Ridges. There are buses which run only during rush hour. Other times, instead of empty buses going round and round, a transit user can dial a ride. It works very well, only when needed and often with a few passengers in a mini-van.