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STATEMENT

WE THE RESIDENTS OF GREATER SUDBURY...

request that the City of Greater Sudbury allocate additional operational funding for public transit services in the 2026–2027 municipal budget. This funding would be used to reduce travel times, increase frequencies, and improve rider experience. We the undersigned recognize that better transit services would bring a wide range of benefits to our community:

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  • Expanding transit would allow people to rely less on their vehicles, saving each household around $15,000 per year per car;
     

  • Expanding transit would make it viable for people to take transit, which would increase transit mode share;
     

  • Higher transit use reduces GHG emissions, which aligns with CEEP goals;
     

  • Higher transit use reduces road wear and tear due to less people driving, which lowers road maintenance cost;
     

  • Higher transit use reduces the amount of traffic congestion, which reduces idling and provides more reliable travel;
     

  • Higher transit use increases foot traffic, leadings to greater economic activity at local business and increased community vibrancy;
     

  • Higher transit funding decreases crime and social inequalities, which creates a safer and more prosperous community;
     

  • Higher transit use encourages physical activity, which increases health of citizens and leads to higher productivity;
     

  • Higher transit investment leads to increased economic activity;
     

  • Higher transit use makes people feel connected to their community, leading to more community pride and less littering;
     

  • Expanding transit makes it easier for businesses to find employees, and provides residents more access to employment opportunities;
     

  • Higher transit access supports the creation of new housing, especially affordable housing.

 

We wish for council to implement these funds in order to implement a form of the desired transit network residents of the public have signed in support of. The petition asks for the following changes:
 

1.) Add and modify routes in the existing transit system to ensure that travel times between: Regional Centres, Regional Corridors, Downtown, and Post Secondary institutions do not exceed a car/bus travel time ratio of 1:1.5 OR 8 minutes longer than driving; urban and outlying neighbourhoods and their nearest Regional Centre, Downtown, or Town Centre do not exceed a ratio 1:1.3 OR 6 minutes longer than driving, and the second nearest Regional Centre, Downtown, or Town Centre does not exceed a ratio of 1:1.5 OR 8 minutes longer than driving.

 

2.) Improve headways by: replacing the holiday service schedule in favour of the weekend service schedule; introducing early morning service starting 1 to 2 hours earlier than the current start time, allowing for Downtown arrivals before 6:00am.; implementing a minimum hourly headway for all routes, excluding target routes; ensuring that all Regional Centres, Regional Corridors, Downtown, and Post Secondary institutions are linked by a network of High-Frequency (every 15 minutes or better) bus service.

 

3.) Expand service area to ensure that: all medium and high density developments in the urban core and outlying areas are located within 400m of a transit route; most low density developments within the urban core are located within 600m of a transit route.

 

4.) Improve physical way-finding by guaranteeing that print schedules are marked with: accurate stop names; scheduled bus departures, not accounting for delays; and accurate GOVA Zone connection times. Improve digital way-finding by modifying GTFS export to include: interlining and circulator routes; shuttle buses; fixed GOVA Zone routes; New Years Eve schedules; detours and missed stops; fare information; route colours; and proper “GOVA” branding.

 

5.) Consolidate bus stops that are within 200m of each other and that do not offer substantial benefits, such as transfer opportunities. Improve maintenance and amenities at these new consolidated stops.

 

6.) Narrow GOVA Plus pick up windows. Increase the number of GOVA Zone connection times. Investigate the possibility of entering a fare agreement with Ontario Northland to allow residents to use Ontario Northland tickets or GOVA bus passes for travel between Sudbury and outlying areas, such as Levack, Dowling, and Wahnapitae.

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