Voted down when it was funded, city now wants money for north-end transit upgrade

Seven years after London city council voted down a funded bus rapid transit route into north London, the city is now asking for money from the province to get one built.

In its budget submission to Queen's Park, the city is seeking $100 million in capital money to build the route. Buses would run up Wharncliffe Avenue and along Western Road to Western University before going to the transit hub at Masonville Mall.

Council voted down a north and west leg of bus rapid transit back in 2019, though that proposed north route ran along Richmond Street instead of Western Road. A route extending out to west London was also voted down by the same council in a close 8-7 vote.

Rapid transit routes extending out to east London and south along Wellington Street and are currently under construction and due to begin service next year.

The results of the 2019 vote stood to leave London with rapid bus service in the south and east but, not the fast-growing north and west.

The two passed over BRT routes made a comeback when they were included in the city's Master Mobility Plan released last year.

Mayor Josh Morgan said the timing for BRT in the north is better now than it was seven years ago.

"Now that the Master Mobility Plan (MMP) is approved, it's time for us to put on the provincial radar that we need a transit funding program for significant transit improvements in our city," said Morgan.

In releasing the MMP, officials pointed to Oxford Street and the west-end as a priority for higher-order transit. It's an area set to add significant density in the coming years with the city approving a new subdivision near Cherry Hill Mall that will add 3,800 residential units in what is now green space.

Morgan said the north leg has been prioritized over the west due to its higher ridership numbers.

"The Masonville node is one of the busiest transit nodes that we have in the city," said Morgan. "It picks up a lot of the population and student density. There's overcrowding and a need for more regular service."

Morgan said the Wharncliffe Road/Western Road route into north London is a much improved plan over the Richmond Street route council turned down seven years ago.

There was committed money, the city turned it down and the situation is now a little iffy- Martin Horak, Western University professor

Morgan said although the routes were funded by senior governments in 2019, approving them would have been a mistake. He said this is because senior government support for the projects would have been locked in at 2016 rates.

Costs for large capital projects have skyrocketed in recent years and Morgan said the city would have been on the hook for what would have been a significant difference between what was funded, and the final cost.

"We need a consistent partnership where we share the costs equally even if they do change over time," said Morgan. "By submitting this now even if there isn't a funding program, we're actually getting more of the federal and provincial contribution than we would have."

Morgan said while it's unlikely the proposal will get funded right away, it's important to submit the request to signal the city's need and desire for upgraded transit.

2019 decision a missed opportunity

Martin Horak, an associate professor of political science at Western University who studies transit funding, said it's "welcome news" to see rapid transit back on the agenda for north London. However he also says the city missed an opportunity to get the work underway back when funding was in place from senior governments.

"It's about time," said Horak. "That part of the city has been underserved by transit and we do need more reliable and frequent service to the north."

Horak said getting the money likely won't be easy, as governments are less willing now to share the cost of municipal transit than they were seven years ago.

"There was committed money, the city turned it down and the situation is now a little iffy in terms of the future of intergovernmental funding for big new transit projects," he said.

Horak said he's optimistic the East London Link and Wellington Gateway may prove their value to Londoners — and to city council — when they enter service, which is slated to happen in 2027 and 2028 respectively.