BRT hacked back as north, west routes voted down

London's bus rapid transit plan (BRT) was effectively sliced in half Monday after city council voted against pursuing funding for the northern line to Western University and the western leg to connect downtown with Wonderland Road via Oxford Street. 

The other three routes — including the Wellington Gateway, East London Link and Downtown Loop — will go ahead into applications for senior government funding.

The decision at council's strategic priorities and policy committee leaves London set to get a greatly truncated version of the full BRT plan, which was an attempt to support increased density in core neighbourhoods and relieve traffic congestion by providing dedicated traffic lanes for buses in four corridors that radiate out from downtown.

North Connection fails

The motion to move ahead with the $147 million North Connection BRT route failed by a 5-8 vote with Mayor Ed Holder, Michael Van Holst, Shawn Lewis, Mo Salih, Phil Squire, Steve Lehman, Paul Van Meerbergen and Steven Hillier all opposed. Councillors Josh Morgan and Jesse Helmer had to declare conflicts and sit out the vote due to their work at Western University. 

The failure of the line is a significant blow to the BRT plan overall. Its estimated annual ridership of six million was by far the most of BRT's five proposed routes. 

Coun. Squire has long fought the BRT's north leg, saying his constituents in Old North prefer a routing that reached campus along Western Road. There were worries about spillover traffic in side streets and questions about the cost of negotiating with Western for access to campus. There were also concerns that making two of Richmond's four traffic lanes bus-only would create rush-hour gridlock.

Squire said he's glad the fight is over.

"After about four and a half years I hope this is the last vote I'll be casting about a route that I've been fretting over," he said. "I'm going to say good riddance to all that," he said.

Mayor Ed Holder also didn't support the north line, saying the loss of car lanes on Richmond was "too harmful for businesses" and to "the vast majority of Londoners who commute each day by car." 

West Connection dies in close vote

BRT's West Connection also didn't survive, falling in a tight 7-8 vote. Voting against were Holder, Van Holst, Lewis, Squire, Morgan, Lehman, Van Meerbergen and Hillier. The $72 million route was slated to run from downtown along Riverside, up Wharncliffe Road in mixed traffic then from Oxford to Wonderland Road in dedicated lanes. 

Coun. Anna Hopkins spoke and voted in favour of the west route, saying it would be first step toward addressing an area badly under served by transit.

"I beg you do not forget the west end," she said. "That's where you're going to see the growth in our city in the next 10 to 15 years, it's all going to be out that way, we are all going to need options to move around." 

But councillors opted against the route, with some concerned that buses would be travelling in mixed traffic for the section along Wharncliffe. 

East, south routes approved

BRT routes that did receive council approval include the East London Link ($120 million) despite concerns that it runs from downtown to Fanshawe College instead of to the growing Argyle neighbourhood. It passed 11-4 with Squire, VanHolst , Van Meergergen and Hiller against. 

The Wellington Gateway was also approved 10-4 with Squire, VanHolst, Van Meerbergen and Hillier against. Coun. Turner was forced to declare a conflict because his house is about 500 metres near the route. 

Coun. Elizabeth Peloza voted in favour of the Wellington Gateway, saying it would bring much-needed safety and infrastructure improvements to the street. Another plus is that the plan includes a park-and-ride lot to serve commuters who come to London from Highway 401 and areas south. 

Now over to council

The decisions made at committee Monday will now head over to council for ratification at Tuesday night's full council meeting.