[ShonTron]

I don’t even mind a GIS-created map, as long as there are basic design principles in place, like route markers, and modifications where more than one route overlaps. An experienced GIS analyst with some cartographic design experience should be able to create a useful, basic map.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

Yeah, really.

Frankly Google maps overlay of the feed is pretty good, they just have a strange obsession with hiding transit layers at relatively near zoom levels so you can't get the overview a real map should provide.

Not having a published map in some form is just inexcusable and seems to be growing in popularity.

 

[Northern Light]

Niagara Region Transit is contemplating a major, 10-year Masterplan with 4 sets of options for service put forward.

Options 1 and 2 are the modest, incremental options, while 3 and 4 are the more robust delivering significantly more frequent service on more routes and eventually adding 24 hour service.

Master Plan Project - Niagara Region Transit

Learn about Niagara Transit’s Master Plan, a strategy to improve transit connectivity across Niagara. Review proposed network options, attend a public information session and share your feedback.

nrtransit.ca

There is a survey out as well soliciting public views, I would encourage anyone who visits Niagara regularly, especially if you arrive by GO to fill it out; even if you don't reside there, your opinion may have a positive effect.

I won't move all the options over, you can follow the link for that. But I will show option 3, which is the largest investment and which I broadly support, with some tweaks.

Survey Link:

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

 

[just east of the creek]

I am surprised that there is not a direct service from NF GO to Niagara on the Lake.

Thanks for the info and will pass it along.

 

[Northern Light]

I am surprised that there is not a direct service from NF GO to Niagara on the Lake.

I don't know, but I suspect that is tied up in the future of WEGO (Niagara Parks Transit)

Thanks for the info and will pass it along.

You're welcome.

 

[Fritter]

I am surprised that there is not a direct service from NF GO to Niagara on the Lake.

Thanks for the info and will pass it along.

I seem to recall for at least one summer, GO offered GO Bus train meet service at St. Catharines VIA station to Niagara on the Lake. I assume poor passenger counts is the reason the service is no longer available.

 

[Northern Light]

I seem to recall for at least one summer, GO offered GO Bus train meet service at St. Catharines VIA station to Niagara on the Lake. I assume poor passenger counts is the reason the service is no longer available.

The proposal above does show a service from the St.Kitts bus terminal to NOTL.

That terminal isn't all that far from the GO Station and the route could be logically extended there if that made sense.

 

[Cambry Ardship]

The 2024 Annual Report was released a couple months ago for Niagara Region Transit.

General Manager’s 2024 Annual Report - Niagara Region Transit

The General Manager's 2024 Annual Report presents a comprehensive overview of the year's operational performance, strategic achievements, and key metrics across conventional, specialized, and microtransit services. This executive summary gives stakeholders essential insights into our continued...

nrtransit.ca

Like other systems in Canada, there's been impressive growth in ridership. About half of the ridership are students.

 

[Northern Light]

The 2024 Annual Report was released a couple months ago for Niagara Region Transit.

General Manager’s 2024 Annual Report - Niagara Region Transit

The General Manager's 2024 Annual Report presents a comprehensive overview of the year's operational performance, strategic achievements, and key metrics across conventional, specialized, and microtransit services. This executive summary gives stakeholders essential insights into our continued...

nrtransit.ca

Like other systems in Canada, there's been impressive growth in ridership. About half of the ridership are students.

View attachment 657876

Fare harmonization and simplification begins July 1st as I recall.

It will be interesting to see the impact of that on travel numbers, particularly from Sept when Uni students return in substantive numbers

 

[ShonTron]

The 2024 Annual Report was released a couple months ago for Niagara Region Transit.

General Manager’s 2024 Annual Report - Niagara Region Transit

The General Manager's 2024 Annual Report presents a comprehensive overview of the year's operational performance, strategic achievements, and key metrics across conventional, specialized, and microtransit services. This executive summary gives stakeholders essential insights into our continued...

nrtransit.ca

Like other systems in Canada, there's been impressive growth in ridership. About half of the ridership are students.

View attachment 657876

I assume this includes the predecessor agencies (Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland)?

 

[Cambry Ardship]

Yes, I believe so.

On a side note, I was surprised to learn that Niagara Transit only accepts cash and paper tickets for fares. Seems like getting Presto or similar should be a near-term priority.

 

[Northern Light]

I assume this includes the predecessor agencies (Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland)?

Yes.

WEGO remains separate though.

 

[Northern Light]

Transit Masterplan was approved (in principle) Jun 17th

This is the presentation on which they voted.

Loading…

files.elfsightcdn.com

It doesn't identify which of the earlier options they went with, but it would be one of the more robust ones.

The service build-up would take until 2035 for full delivery with modest expansion next year and 2027 while the Niagara Bus Garage under goes phase 1 expansion. In 2028, when that comes on stream, service will increase substantially.

Thereafter, there is a further expansion of the NF garage, and a major expansion/redevelopment of the one in Welland.

Phase 3 is final build out:

'

There's lots more slides if you follow the link.

@ShonTron will have thoughts; perhaps @reaperexpress as well.

 

[reaperexpress]

Transit Masterplan was approved (in principle) Jun 17th

This is the presentation on which they voted.

Loading…

files.elfsightcdn.com

It doesn't identify which of the earlier options they went with, but it would be one of the more robust ones.

The service build-up would take until 2035 for full delivery with modest expansion next year and 2027 while the Niagara Bus Garage under goes phase 1 expansion. In 2028, when that comes on stream, service will increase substantially.

Thereafter, there is a further expansion of the NF garage, and a major expansion/redevelopment of the one in Welland.

Phase 3 is final build out:

View attachment 667335

View attachment 667336

View attachment 667337


View attachment 667338
'
View attachment 667339

There's lots more slides if you follow the link.

@ShonTron will have thoughts; perhaps @reaperexpress as well.

This seems like an excellent initiative. Expanding service to cover the entire region will definitely help generate political support for NRT from the municipalities it doesn't currently serve. The service model with regional route connecting with on-demand service areas is a good way to provide widespread coverage in rural areas. The cost per trip for the on-demand service is of course extremely high, but in rural areas, providing a comparable level of coverage with fixed-route transit would be even more expensive.

The first phase consists of two new regional routes, to Grimsby and Niagara-on-the-Lake respectively, which is an obvious choice. Those are the two largest communities in Niagara without any local transit service. The Grimsby service seems especially promising if it is timed to meet the hourly GO Route 12 service at Grimsby Casablanca station. It also serves Beamsville along the way, which could help justify the elimination of the Beamsville P&R GO bus stop, which would improve ridership on GO routes 11 and 12 by cutting 5 minutes from the travel time.

 

[ShonTron]

The Grimsby route pretty much restores the old Canada Coach Lines Highway 8 local service, which continued under Trentway-Wagar/Coach Canada service into the early 2000s. It was discontinued around the time GO expanded bus routes into Niagara and Waterloo regions.

It only goes to Winona Crossing though, making it a long run into Downtown Hamilton; hopefully GO continues to run the 11 for that quicker run.