On February 7th at Regional Council the motion was put forward by Mathieu Goetzke, the region's commissioner of transportation services since October 2022, to terminate the #2 bus route that services our community. This was moved by Councillor Wolf (Cambridge) and seconded by Councillor Foxton (North Dumfries).  GRT bus route #2 is scheduled to be discontinued in September of this year. 

There was NO publication or consultation with community members or even affected ward councillors prior to this meeting on Feb 7. There continues to be no communication regarding this to the public beyond private citizens paying attention to their regional government and informing people. A direct link to the minutes and a video of the council meeting can be found here.

People from distant parts of the region (Cambridge and North Dumfries) are making decisions regarding places about which they know little to nothing. The decision to cancel a route particularly affected by COVID restrictions and endless construction is thoughtless at best. This is not a decision to be made on questionable data or without consultation with the public.

This route is essential for students travelling to Westheights PS, CHCI and Eastwood CI. It enables those who do not have a vehicle to access employment, shopping, and medical services along the route. Many families in our neighbourhoods chose to live here because of the proximity to a good transit route. The presence of this route helps businesses in Forest Hill Centre, Driftwood Plaza, Southwood Plaza and Stanley Park Mall.

In the linked council meeting, it is inferred that our neighbourhoods have no socio-economic need for transit. We infer that Mr. Goetzke and the region have not done their research, nor understand the real-world impact discontinuing the #2 will have.

Cancelling transit services now, when citizens are already suffering from elevated inflation and our cities strive to reduce their carbon footprints is very counterproductive. This change is going to result in a good deal more cars on the road, less accessibility and less money for people who are already struggling.

Whereas:

• The decision was made without public consultation or input from affected local parties
• The reports and data upon which the decision was based are still unavailable for the public to view, despite the region’s commitment to Open Government.
• Citizens and taxpayers should have a say when city services upon which they rely are discontinued
• The cities and region are striving to lower their carbon footprint and the number of vehicles on their roads
• No functionally equivalent alternatives have been presented for those who depend on route 2. Acceptable alternatives would include on-demand bussing, school transit to CHCI, Eastwood CI and Westheights PS and accessibility transit.

We, the undersigned citizens of Waterloo Region call upon the Waterloo Regional Council and GRT represented by Mattieu Goetzke to:

• Commit to maintaining a level of service equivalent to or exceeding that which is currently provided by the route 2 bus.
• Commit to publicly engaging with all affected stakeholders including elected officials and residents prior to all future transit system changes or removals.
• Publish all transit route usage data used for such decision-making as it becomes available in the future.