In time for the fall rush of staff and students returning to both Seneca College and York University, YRT has responded to the considerable outrage that greeted GO's decision to cancel Route 64 (
www.geoffdawe.com/yrt-adds-york-university-route) and created the new route 22A. This new route is meant to service the route previously serviced by GO's 64. A quick look at the new schedule reveals that it is indeed a happy compromise. There are nine southbound and nine northbound trips daily (GO route 64 had trips all day; however, being frank, many of the mid day buses were virtually empty. Thus their elimination does not truly represent a hardship for those regular transit users). There are fewer stops at which you can catch the bus - GO would pick up riders at a number of points down Yonge Street, whereas Aurora riders of the new 22a will have to make their way to Yonge and Murray or Yonge and Bloomington. The trip now takes approximately 40 minutes which is comparable to the previous route. (For example, 8:54 bus from Yonge and Murray arrives at York U at 9:38).
The only draw back is that the YRT buses have less seating than the GO buses - and there is concern, by some riders, that the YRT buses will not be able to handle the volume of users - resulting, undoubtedly with most trips being standing room only. It remains to be seen if the new route will be able to handle the considerable volume of students and staff and faculty that used to take the former Route 64 - in particular the morning routes.
Admittedly, this is a compromise, and there are still some kinks to be worked out - perhaps more stops and/or bigger buses. But, the point is that MPP Frank Klees and Mayor Margaret Black deserve a great deal of thanks for their hard work and lobbying on behalf of Aurora residents to get this service.
My Perspective
It is essential to recognize that convenient public transit is an essential element in the quest to be more environmentally friendly. All municipal politicians need to understand the need to work with both their regional and provincial counterparts to get this done.