Most people would get to their destination in about the same time as driving. This new bus system is designed so riders can easily reach their two nearest transit hubs, with bus trips only slightly longer than driving—for example, a 30-minute drive would take no more than 39 minutes by bus. That’s a big improvement over the current system, where many riders end up with travel times more than twice as long as driving.

Most parts of the city would have a bus coming every 15 to 30 minutes—much better than the current system, where most people only get one bus an hour outside of rush hour. On top of that, buses would start running at or before 5:00 AM, getting riders downtown in time for 6:00 AM departures. Right now, buses don’t even start until at best 6:15 AM, meaning downtown arrivals aren’t until 7:00 AM or later. Currently, GOVA runs around 43 buses on its routes during peak periods. This petition would require 48 buses during the peak periods. GOVA currently owns 59 buses, meaning that new buses would most likely not need to be bought.

Most bus routes would have their schedules adjusted to improve reliability, ensuring that buses run on time more consistently. Many routes would also have extra time built in to account for delays, making the system more dependable for riders. Additionally, downtown departure times would be adjusted to provide service every 7.5 minutes. This means that if you miss a transfer, you won’t have to wait as long for the next bus, making connections smoother and reducing overall travel frustration.

This new network introduces several major improvements to existing bus routes. Many circulator routes would be combined, allowing for two-way service and more frequent buses, making travel more convenient and predictable. Additionally, new routes would be added to better serve areas that currently have little to no transit access, such as Falconbridge Road and the South End.

This new system would require under $3 million in additional transit funding. These extra funds would go directly toward improving bus service, adding around 20,000 more service hours to GOVA. This $3 million dollar highly conservative estimate was calculated using publicly available service hour costs of $153 per hour. The $3 million estimate does not include any new ridership, meaning that the net cost of this petition would likely be less.

Currently, physical and digital wayfinding materials are often confusing and show wrong information. This petition asks the City to: Update GTFS data to include interlining and looping buses, new years eve and shuttle buses, fixed route GOVA Zone trips, fare information, proper route branding/colours, and include GOVA logos. Update physical schedules to display GOVA Zone connection times in a standard 'easy to understand' way.