How do we improve Niagara's public transit?

While every city in Niagara might have its own gripes an annoyances about their own local transit system (12-5 service on Sundays, St. Catharines? really??) there's one thing we can all agree on; public transportation between the cities in our community stinks.

To get out of St. Catharines you can't simply catch a bus from the Downtown Terminal (unless you want to pay Greyhound to get to Niagara Falls). First you have to go to Brock University. Then, if you're going to Welland, you have to wait for a bus that should come every hour. If you're going to Niagara Falls -- who knows? The St. Catharines Transit website suggests you check their site for info, and their site has none. It's not without a completely unnecessary amount of detective work and running around that you can ever get anywhere in our community without reliable transportation of your own. Thankfully Mayor Brian McMullan is looking to change all of that.

Last Tuesday, Mayor McMullan proposed a plan to the regional transportation committee that would see 8 new buses purchased for the sole purpose of making hourly trips between the downtown cores of Niagara Falls, Welland, and St. Catharines. And while the transit departments of all three cities aided McMullan in drafting the plan, neither the mayor of Niagara Falls or Welland could get on board.

While both mayors like the idea of improved transit in the region, Niagara Falls mayor Ted Salci says it would be a strain on the city to foot their share of the cost for the buses, while Welland mayor Damian Goulbourne would prefer we improve the existing routes rather than step on the toes of coach buses or the mythical GO Transit service that we've been hearing about for years.

It's nice to know that the mayors do agree that something needs to be done. But the question is what? In my little fantasy world where Niagara receeved money faster than they could spend it, I'd love to see a high speed train service between all of our communities. GO Train, subway, whatever. I'm not picky. Just something fast and on rails,so it doesn't need to stop until it gets to a hub. If we had that,residents would be able to work, shop and play anywhere their heart desired. But that's just my little fantasy world (mind you, Niagara used to be connected by streetcars for years, so it's not that crazy an idea). How would Niagara residents get around in yours?

TAGS: City Hall, Niagara, Niagara Falls, Stcatharines, Transit, Welland