As Burlington's population continues to grow, moving around your city should be easy and convenient whether you choose to travel on foot, by car, bicycle or on Burlington Transit.
Establishing a grid network to meet the mobility needs of the city’s population over the next 20 years is not something that will happen overnight, but there are improvements to our current transit service we can make in the short term that will help lay the stepping stones of what is to come.
In 2019, Burlington's Transit will recommend to Burlington City Council, a five-year operational program that will help begin the development of a new transit network and level of transit service in the city.
The goal for the new level of transit service will be to:
- Increase frequency and reliability of bus service
- Focus service on the city's most heavily travelled streets
- Create better connections with other major transportation systems like GO rail service
- Improve the comfort and convenience of taking transit.
How can you get involved?
Help shape the city’s future transit system at upcoming open house sessions. Transit riders and non-riders are invited to attend two upcoming open house sessions taking place in March and April to help shape the future of Burlington’s transit system.
The city is committed to listening and keeping the community informed. To receive updates about Burlington's Transit Plan, subscribe to this page (in the top right hand corner).
Past Events
| 2018 Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit Users' Forum | ||||||
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On Saturday, April 21, 2018, over 100 people attended the 2018 Transit Users’ Forum. Presenters at the forum included Sue Connor, Director of Burlington Transit, The Honourable Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington, and members of the Burlington For Accessible Sustainable Transit (BFAST) group. Participants in attendance learned about:
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| 2018 Transit Survey | ||||||
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Between March 5 - 26, 2018, Burlington Transit collected public feedback through an online survey. A total of 867 responses were received. Survey Results - Highlights Of those that completed the survey, 92% live in Burlington; 53% work in Burlington; 60% are transit riders; and 37% are non transit riders interested in riding transit in the future. Key trends Throughout the survey responses, customers told us they are looking for:
Services The respondents that use Burlington Transit, rated our services as:
Fares, trip planning and where people go
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Why does Burlington need a new level of transit service?
As the City of Burlington grows, an improved transit network will help the city meet the challenges of a growing population.
Burlington is at a unique time in its history. In the past, growth has meant the development of new neighbourhoods but growth in the future looks very different for Burlington because our city has very little room left for traditional suburban-type development.
Instead of growing out, Burlington City Council has made the decision to grow up and intensify in key urban areas. This direction, approved through the city's Strategic Plan in April 2016, will enable Burlington to curb sprawl, protect the rural area and make efficient use of land and infrastructure.
At the same time, Burlington continues to grow. The 2016 Census data shows Burlington grew by 7,535 people between 2011 and 2016 - a 4.3% overall growth rate. Ontario's Places to Grow Act mandates that Burlington plan for a population of 193,000 by 2031, however, the city will reach this population number within the next few years.
As the city plans for future population growth with documents like the adopted Official Plan and Mobility Hubs, it must also plan for how people will move through the city with documents like the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP), the Cycling Plan and the new Transit Plan.
Over the last 30 years, Burlington's transportation network has accommodated growth by building more roadways. This strategy is no longer sustainable. The city does not have the space to build new roadways and the financial cost to maintain a larger network of roads is significant.
A 21st century city is built around a different transportation model, one designed to provide people of all ages and abilities with more travel choices for things like walking, cycling and transit.
We know there is work to be done when it comes to building a better transit service that can meet the needs of our riders and our growing city.
How long will it take to implement a new transit network for Burlington?
Burlington Transit is busy behind the scenes, working on changes that will provide riders with an improved experience in 2018.
On Jan. 29, 2018, Burlington City Council approved an investment of $1.55 million in transit as part of the city's 2018 operating budget. This funding will be used to provide stability to Burlington Transit's operations and improve the reliability of the public transit service.
A few of the spending highlights include:
- Five additional transit operators
- An additional transit mechanic and maintenance supervisor
- Two new operations supervisors
- 17 casual transit operator positions converted to full-time status
- The introduction of transit service on Christmas Day starting Dec. 25, 2018 and New Years Day, starting Jan. 1, 2019.
In December 2017, Burlington City Council approved Burlington's 2018 capital budget which includes a $500,000 investment in transit for the installation of video cameras on buses.
The Transit Plan will help Burlington build a transit network that meets the needs of Burlington's growing population over the next 25 years and gets people moving. A draft of the Transit Plan is anticipated by the end of 2018.