Improvements to service highlight effectiveness of Burlington transit users’ forum

Politicians are listening when it comes to transit.

So says Doug Brown of Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit (BFAST), on the eve of the non-profit organization’s transportation forum.

Brown says awareness of transit issues and improvements to the system are taking place because the current Burlington city council is willing to spend to provide better service to users.

“We’ve come a long way from where we were just a few years ago. In the past local politicians didn’t seem to care about transit, it was worse than indifferent,” he said. “But right now we have a council that listens and is willing to put money into the budget to improve service. We have a ways to go but we have made the turn.”

Emphasizing that Burlington has gone from a deteriorating system into one that is improving, Brown said that keeping the issue in front of decision-makers is worth the effort and underscores the importance of tomorrow’s (May 4) forum that takes place from 1-3 p.m. at Burlington Central Library.

Brown says those in attendance at the forum will be able to ask questions and give suggestions to senior levels of Burlington Transit as well as the local councillors who have been invited to attend. The forum is open to everyone in the community.

Videos

Read More

Read More

LEARN MORE

LEARN MORE

LEARN MORE

LEARN MORE

“It’s important for users of the transit system to have their say, they know the system the best,” Brown continued. “The forum keeps these issues alive and lets politicians know they have to keep going to improve the system.”

A panel of transit and environmental activists, including Gideon Forman of the David Suzuki Foundation and Ian Borsuk from Environment Hamilton, will join Burlington’s Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Councillor Rory Nisan, to discuss pro-transit initiatives in other communities and how supporters got their best results. The forum will also feature a state-of-the-system report and a question-and-answer session with Burlington Transit Director Catherine Baldelli. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will give the opening address and Halton Region Chair Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr will also be in attendance.

The Transit Users’ Forum has been organized annually by BFAST since 2015, with a three-year break from 2020-2022. Last year’s forum was held in September, but this year’s returns to its traditional May date.

“People are realizing that transit is a common-sense alternative to ever-mounting car expenses, traffic gridlock, pollution and concrete sprawl,” said Brown in encouraging people to attend. “It’s the best bang for the city’s investing buck.”