Brantford City Council endorsed the next step in implementing recommendations from the Brantford Transit Network Redesign plan during their regular meeting on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
Developed in response to extensive community feedback, the plan outlines a bold new vision to modernize and expand Brantford’s transit system, making it more efficient, reliable, and better prepared to meet the demands of the City’s rapid growth. The recommended plan, initially considered by Council at their Committee of the Whole meeting earlier this month, incorporates extensive public feedback gathered over several months, which emphasized the need for more frequent service, extended hours, improved regional connections, and enhanced stop amenities.
Specifically, key recommendations of the Brantford Transit Moving Forward Plan include:
- Expanding annual service hours from 86,300 to 204,700, improving frequency and coverage throughout the city.
- Increasing the number of Transit hubs from 2 to 5, providing service coverage to 90% of residents within 500 metres of a transit stop.
- Implementing three high-frequency core routes to provide direct, two-way service to key destinations, reducing travel times and eliminating unnecessary transfers.
- Implementing on-demand services to address low-demand areas, offering more flexible transit solutions in West Brant, Eagle Place, and Echo Place.
- Introduction of real-time vehicle tracking, upgraded scheduling systems, and fare capping to enhance the passenger experience and operational efficiency.
- Integrating fleet electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with Brantford’s net-zero goals.
“Brantford is experiencing rapid growth, and it’s critical that our transit system is upgraded to keep pace with the changing needs of our community,” said Mike Spicer, Director of Fleet and Transit Services. “Implementing this plan will go a long way towards improving connectivity, reducing congestion, and making public transit a more efficient and reliable option for residents.”
The financial components of the plan will now proceed to the Estimates Committee for consideration on December 2, 2024. It is anticipated that implementation of the network redesign will be phased over multiple years, starting in 2025, to ensure an effective rollout and meet the City’s budget and growth objectives.
