Transit in Caledon

[Articulated]

The Town of Caledon launched a new local transit service that started operating on Monday November 11th. The route will operate from the community of Bolton down Highway 50 to connect with Züm service at Highway 7/Queen Street. This route has been contracted to Voyago, so I presume it runs with cutaway buses. Service runs every half hour from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This would be the Town's replacement for GO route 38 which is being eliminated in January 2020 (after getting a 6 month reprieve from the cutbacks in June).

This is in addition to Brampton Transit route 81 Mayfield West, which operates under contract to the Town of Caledon serving the Southfields community on Kennedy Road north of Highway 410.

[Chris W]

Per the town's Twitter, there are two Girardin/Blue Bird cutaways numbered 1833 and 1834 that operate the service. They run on a 30 minute frequency so two buses are required.

[MCI102A3]

Looked at the Twitter and it's actually a pretty nice simple scheme, kinda reminds me of Cornwall.

[Articulated]

On 11/28/2019 at 1:18 PM, Chris W said:

Per the town's Twitter, there are two Girardin/Blue Bird cutaways numbered 1833 and 1834 that operate the service. They run on a 30 minute frequency so two buses are required.

Only two buses? What happens if they need a spare? Dip into Voyago's charter fleet perhaps? I would've liked to have seen three buses...

[G.A]

On 11/29/2019 at 7:45 PM, Articulated said:

Only two buses? What happens if they need a spare? Dip into Voyago's charter fleet perhaps? I would've liked to have seen three buses...

That brings me back 20 years! I will check this out some point this month.

[Gil]

Caledon appears to be asking Brampton Transit to provide additional service into Caledon.  On top of the Voyago and GO Bus service from Bolton it seems they want to incrementally contract out service similar to YRT (and it's precursors Vaughan Transit and Markham Transit) and the TTC.  It will likely be a while before YRT can get regular service via Kleinburg or Nobleton into or bordering Bolton.

The main text of the request sent to Brampton Transit:

RE: REQUEST TO BRAMPTON TRANSIT TO EXPAND SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR CORRIDORS NORTH OF MAYFIELD ROAD

I am writing to advise that at the Town Council meeting held on February 22, 2022, Council adopted a resolution requesting that the City of Brampton expand Brampton Transit service throughout the major corridors north of Mayfield Road.

The resolution read as follows:

• Whereas Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga and the Region of Peel strive to support active transportation and transit options for all members of the community to live, work and play in alignment with vision zero;
• Whereas the continued partnerships between the lower tier municipalities are critical for supporting the community with transit services;
• Whereas the City of Brampton through Brampton Transit provides bus service to different areas of Caledon, such as along Mayfield Road, Airport Road and into Southfields Village with transit plans for Mayfield West Communities;
• Whereas there are several areas within the Town that would benefit from transit service for example Dixie Road north of Mayfield Road;
• Now therefore be it resolved that Town staff work with Brampton Transit to explore the feasibility of expanding transit services throughout major corridors north of Mayfield Road;
• That Town staff report back to Council on the level of service and budget implications, including the current transit service in Bolton;
• Further that a copy of this motion be sent to the City of Brampton.

For more information regarding this matter, please contact the Arash Olia, Manager, Transportation Engineering for the Town of Caledon directly by e-mail to Arash.Olia@caledon.ca or by phone at 905.584.2272 ext. 4073.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Laura Hall, Director, Corporate Services / Town Clerk

I know the Town of Caledon was looking into establishing their own transit system, but face many challenges given how spread out they are geographically and the limited passenger base.  Incremental growth by contracting out service to both Brampton Transit and Voyago will likely address the most pressing needs until a full-fledged system can be implemented.  I'm wondering how far north into Caledon they were expecting Brampton Transit to go?  Old School Rd. is the next concession road north of Mayfield Rd.  Their Transit Feasibility Study Phase 2 probably got sidelined with COVID as it was supposed to be implemented last year with service along Mayfield Rd. connecting Bolton to Mayfield West.

Here's a link to the full Transit Feasibility Study which was completed in 2019 along with the long-term plan for the system:

[Gil]

Caledon Enterprise: Caledon council asks to extend Brampton bus routes north of Mayfield Road

As long as the bulk of the Caledon passengers are heading south into Brampton, then this doesn't seem like a big ask.  If the passengers are trying to get to other places in Caledon then you run into problems.  Currently the first east-west route spanning the area west of Hurontario is the 23 SANDALWOOD which provides links to Mayfield West with a bit of a walk to the Sandalwood Loop and the 81 MAYFIELD WEST and Bolton via the Voyago service along Queen St.  Neither of which are convenient or quick.

According to the article, Brampton is receptive to increasing the services into Caledon, if they are willing to help pay for the services, which they are currently looking into.  Caledon will have to wait until Brampton Transit decides to implement service along Mayfield Rd. or go ahead and run it on their own to provide some additional service which would also connect the various routes running north into Caledon.  Perhaps down the line they can work out a cost sharing with Brampton Transit.  Is there something similar for the TTC service along Steeles or does the TTC bear all of the costs involved?

There's also still the discussion about how far into Caledon Brampton Transit is willing to operate.  Marginally to serve the developments on the north side of Mayfield?  Or substantially to connect communities further north?