COUNC

MEMORANDUM SEP 17 1979

TO: His Worship, the Mayor & Members of Council September 17th, 1979

FROM: Alderman John Keryluk

SUBJECT: Articulated Buses.

leading to some form of rapid transit apparent for some time. The G.V.R.D., » made extensive studies and presented Progress on implementation of the report as been thwarted because of a difference of ost~sharing formula; among other things.

Rapid Transit, in its ultimate form, 1s many years down the road for the following reasons:

1) Cost-sharing with the Province is not yet resolved.

2) The Province has definite ideas which are not in total agreement with G.V.R.D. and which must be resolved, Participating municipalities too, must be consulted and their demands satisfied.

3) Even after agreement on basics among the three levels of government involved, considerable time in years must elapse to allow for establishing Priorities of routes, deciding on the type of system to be implemented, commencing detailed engineering studies and design, and finally undertaking the actual construction which in itself will require two to three years to complete.

It is generally understood, and accepted, that an effective Rapid Transit must be preceded by an upgrading in the existing bus system and especially in the bus routes,

Recognizing that our present transit system is inadequate and growing worse very quickly, I would submit, for consideration of Council, the following:

Urge the Urban Transit Authority (U.T.A.) to:

1) Undertake negotiations with the C.P.R. with a view toward establishing a "go-train" on existing tracks.

2) Seek immediate redress for the commuting public by upgrading the existing bus system while studies and negotiations on Rapid Transit go on.

3) Make an immediate move toward establishing exclusive bus lanes on major routes to take the buses out of the stalled traffic during the critical traffic peaks in the early morning as well as the late afternoon.

4) Undertake studies toward implementation of Articulated Buses in the system at the earliest Opportunity.

May I point out that the above proposals are compatible with thpmmeceseary

Progression toward the implementation of Rapid Transit and should, if acc hasten the day when our citizens can be Properly served by a full anfi CA: ITEM

system.

Respectfully submitted, RECEIVED AT: Alderman J.J. Keryluk