London

Here's how to provide specific feedback on London's bus rapid transit plan

Part of the public input process involves a newly-released map that allows residents to drop pins along the BRT route to provide specific feedback and comments.

An interactive map allows people to drop pins along the BRT route to provide specific feedback

A screen-grab of an interactive mapping tool launched by BRT officials for Londoners to provide input along the transit routes. (londonbrtmap.ca)

A newly-released interactive map allows residents to drop pins along London's BRT route to provide specific feedback and comments. 

Clicking on different parts of the BRT network map calls up specific infrastructure descriptions and proposed elements such as bus shelters or bike lanes. 

"This is the biggest project in London's history and public input is crucial," said Jennie Ramsay, the project director for the rapid transit project. 

"We're trying to make it easy for people to give us feedback in whatever way works for them." 

The website is part of a summer-long BRT consultation about the massive infrastructure project. 

"Many things have already been decided – including the routes, the dedicated lanes, and where buses will run curbside or in centre-running lanes – and now we're looking to Londoners to help us tweak the finer details," Ramsay said.

"That could include anything from questions about parking and ideas on how to make the BRT stops more accessible to comments about the studies that have been done as part of the project, or thoughts about how to improve the BRT plans in a particular neighbourhood."

People with questions or comments can also drop in to the rapid transit office on the second floor of the Central Library every Tuesday from July 10 to Sept. 11, rom 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., for what is being billed as "Transit Tuesdays." 
There are also two BRT open house scheduled June 21 at the Central library, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

"All feedback we receive is considered and recorded," Ramsay said. "Our team will also be out in the community, trying to reach as many people as possible." 

Some feedback from residents has already been incorporated into the BRT plan, including changes to on-street parking downtown and additional left-through lanes on King Street east of Wellington.