Yes, the 7D/E buses to UW are being eliminated in September 2015. No, it won’t be the end of the world.
The change is a part of a total overhaul of the GRT bus system, moving from a “hub-and-spoke” model to a connective grid network. This process involves deleting overlapping routes and straightening others to travel along the quickest path. Buses removed from redundant routes will be reallocated to make the redesigned network more frequent. In addition, iXpress service will be introduced along major corridors.
In the University area, routes 7D/E will be deleted in favour of more frequent service on the 200 iXpress and 7C Conestoga Mall (which will be renumbered to route 7). Other east-west routes along University Avenue and Columbia Street, such as the 92 University Loop, may also get more buses.
Sure, it’s a tough pill to swallow for many riders. Some will have to transfer to get to class and the west side of Ring Road will lose the 7D service, its only regular bus route.
But the current design of route 7 no longer works – its long and complex route design of six branches (7A to F) is not only confusing for new and seasoned riders alike, but also present operational complications for GRT as well. Traffic delays on one end of the route can cause buses to “bunch up”, causing significant delays and overcrowding on the other end.
The change will simplify route 7 into one branch along King (the current 7C), which will run every 7.5 minutes during weekdays. This change is designed to increase passenger legibility (make the route easier to understand for riders) and operational reliability (fewer late buses). It’s a win-win for everyone. So what’s the problem here?
The first concern is the loss of direct, “one-seat” ride between the King, University and Columbia corridors. Opponents of the service change claim that additional transfers will inconvenience riders and increase travel time. In reality, however, the opposite is true. More frequent service will reduce wait and transfer time – which means that rather than waiting for up to 30 minutes for the 7D to take you from Uptown to South Campus Hall (and it’s always late), you would get home much faster by taking the first bus that arrives, get off at University and King and transferring to a different bus. Frequency also provides freedom – rather than scheduling daily errands around a half-hourly bus route, riders will have the liberty to leave any time of the day and a bus will come every 7.5 minutes, guaranteed.
Much resistance to the loss of one-seat rides is psychological. Riders don’t feel comfortable waiting in the cold or are afraid of missing the connections. This may be a result of lack of proper information and poor physical surroundings at transfer points as well. However, things like better maps and signage, real-time information displays, heated shelters and a better pedestrian environment overall may significantly reduce those psychological stress for connecting passengers. Trip planning tools such as Google Maps and the EasyGO app, which uses GRT’s GTFS and real-time GPS data, will further enhance the transferring experience.
The second concern is the loss of bus service on the west side of Ring Road. The majority of these riders are going to and from classes at Environment and Science buildings, the Student Life Centre, and University Colleges (the 7D also serves many first- and upper- year residences but those students are unlikely to be frequent users and therefore will not be impacted as much).
However, increase in ridership on routes like the 201 and 202 iXpress shows that students are willing to walk longer to take advantage of more frequent, reliable services. In fact, 7 out of 11 routes serving UW don’t travel into the campus, and thousands of students already make those walks to and from Davis Centre, Seagram, or B.C. Matthews Hall. Reallocating buses from the 7D/E service to these east-west corridor routes will reduce wait times and provide a faster trip for a much larger portion of students.
Even if the 7D service is lost, most of the west side of campus is within 450m (a 5 min walk) to a bus stop and 600m (7 min walk) to an iXpress stop. There are also many indoor walking routes on campus, including bridges and underground passages, which may offer better walking experience during cold or rainy days. Late Night Loop and UW Campus Shuttle are also available after dark for those who feel uncomfortable walking on campus at night.
The bottom line? GRT is not making these changes to inconvenience us – nothing could be far from the truth. The new GRT network will allocate buses more efficiently throughout the city, reducing wait and transfer times, and improve overall travel experience for all riders. It will also integrate with the ION light rail transit service in 2017, making travelling around by transit more convenient than ever.
That is not to say, though, that riders shouldn’t be concerned either. Many students have raised valid concerns over accessibility, overcrowding and unreliable bus connections. GRT needs to make sure (and convince riders) that transfer experience at University and King will as smooth as possible, and that parallel routes will have enough capacity to handle the increased ridership. And it is also the responsibility of riders to make sure their concerns are heard by GRT, by becoming involved in the public consultation process.
This is also a perfect opportunity for our school to reflect on the state of campus infrastructure. Both outdoor and indoor walking routes should be enhanced with clear wayfinding signs, proper lighting and better security. UW may want to explore the option of providing its own shuttle bus service on the west side of Ring Road and residences to connect with the ION light rail in 2017.
GRT is evolving to serve us better. Are you willing to give it a try?
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