Provincial study aims to improve Waterloo region-to-Guelph bus connections

The Region of Waterloo is taking part in a provincially-funded transit study that will look at how to improve transit connections between different parts of the Southwestern Ontario area called the Greater Golden Horseshoe. 

The study will focus at first on connecting Waterloo region and Guelph, according to a regional staff report that went before the committee of the whole Tuesday. 

"There's a lot of people that go back and forth, particularly for employment, but also for school," said Regional Coun. Tom Galloway. 

"The highway is already very congested and a good transit system that would get people back and forth is something that we've been looking at for some time." 

Grand River Transit and Guelph Transit have long been in talks about linking the two communities by bus, according to the regional report. 

Regional staff believe it makes sense for Metrolinx to take ownership of this service, in advance of two-way all-day GO, though conversations have been at a standstill since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the report said.

In recent years, it's become even more difficult to go between Waterloo region and Guelph by bus, after Greyhound shut down the last remaining routes of its service in Canada. However, the province has deregulated inter-community bus service, which could make it easier for operators to start up service between the region and other parts of the province, the staff report noted. 

Student groups want to include Brantford

Groups that represent students at Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University say they support better bus service to Guelph, but want officials to aim higher. They'd also like to see better transportation toward the Brantford area — a suggestion that has also been put forward by the group Link the Watershed. 

"[This] would better integrate regional labour markets, expand the accessibility of important services for residents, address congestion on key intercity routes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Ian Muller, director of policy research and advocacy with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union. 

Speaking at the committee of the whole meeting Tuesday, Muller said improving public transportation is also a "matter of social justice," given the current high cost of living. 

The staff report notes that while Guelph is the initial focus of the study, Grand River Transit could eventually see improved linkages "to Brantford and potentially Hamilton."

The current study is expected to wrap up in March this year, according to Metrolinx. 

Asked whether the agency plans to offer bus transit between Guelph and Waterloo region, Metrolinx said it, along with the Ministry of Transportation, looks forward to seeing the results of the study and recommendations from local transit agencies.