Big Changes Could be Coming to Burlington Transit

Burlington | Halton | Ontario | Latest News |

Published March 1, 2019 at 8:18 pm

If you regularly use Burlington’s Transit system, there are some pretty big changes that could soon come into effect that you may want to be aware of.

If you regularly use Burlington’s Transit system, there are some pretty big changes that could soon come into effect that you may want to be aware of.

According to a recent news release, as part of city’s proposed 2019 operating budget discussion, city council has voted to approve a motion that would greatly impact the system.

If fully approved this motion would, according to Burlington Transit, provide free transit for those who are 65 years of age and older between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on weekdays – this initiative would start in June 2019 as a pilot, and provide free monthly passes on PRESTO for Burlington residents who are eligible for the Subsidized Passes for Low Income Transit (SPLIT) program.

In addition, Burlington Transit would work with the Halton Region in order to improve the SPLIT program, Burlington Transit would also work with school boards in order to create a fare strategy for students.

Lastly, if fully approved, Burlington Transit will create a working group made up of one council member, members of the public, and Burlington Transit staff.

The goal of these initiatives is to eliminate barriers for transit users.

“The singular, big dot we’re trying to get to in our city is moving towards increasing ridership on our Burlington Transit buses,” reads a recent blog post on Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward’s website. “Fares can act as a barrier to that. I want to eliminate as many barriers as possible to get more folks comfortable with using our local transit system and free transit does that.”

However, these initiatives have not yet been fully approved but the next step in the process will be council approval of the 2019 operating budget.

The council meeting regarding this will take place on March 25, 2019.

Would you like to see these initiatives fully approved?

Cover photo is courtesy of the City of Burlington.

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