London Transit

Founded	1951 (from London Street Railway)
Headquarters	450 Highbury Avenue N
Service area	London, Ontario
Service type	Public Transit
Routes	28 regular routes 6 express 3 school 6 community[1]
Fleet	223 buses
Annual ridership	24.1 million (2014)[2]
Operator	City of London
Website	https://www.londontransit.ca

A retired GM Classic bus in the old colour scheme

The London Transit Commission (LTC) is responsible for the operation of the public transit system on behalf of the City of London, Ontario, Canada. It operates transit bus service and para-transit service. In 2014, annual ridership totaled 24.1 million.^[2] The LTC has 28 regular bus routes, six express routes, three school-year-only routes and six community bus routes.^[1]

History

Active fleet

As of 2021, the LTC has 222 transit buses in its fleet. Until recently, London Transit had one of the oldest transit fleets in Ontario, with many buses older than 25 years old. However, with new buses being purchased within the last decade, this has changed. All older model high-floor buses were phased out in 2012, making the LTC fully operated with low-floor accessible buses.

During peak service periods on weekdays there are over 175 buses on the road. Sunday service reduces that number to fewer than 100.

Ridership

After the public transit boom of the 1960s and 1970s, ridership began to slip. At that time almost every transit route was passing through London's downtown area. An attempted building of two downtown malls and the economic recession of the 1990s combined to force the downtown area into serious decline. An economic slump echoed in a parallel drop in ridership, made even worse by the traditional responses of service cuts and fare increases. Between 1987 and 1996, LTC ridership declined by almost 40 percent.

In 1994, the LTC began developing a comprehensive business plan to turn these trends around. Innovations included an overhauling of fare structure, re-thinking routes, bringing buses into mall areas (which would later become true terminal areas), and making standard public transit buses increasingly wheelchair-accessible. Post-secondary students attending the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College now receive a subsidised bus pass incorporated into their tuition a program which has become a great success.

Due in large part to these measures, the LTC is currently experiencing a massive increase in ridership, straining current transit resources.

In March 2020 the LTC has experienced decreased ridership due to the COVID-19 Pandemic cutting jobs for drivers and reducing service in areas with low ridership to match the demand.^[6][7] For safety of the drivers and to limit the spread of the coronavirus paying a fare was suspended. Passengers had to board and exit from the rear door while people with accessibility needs can still board and exit at the front of the bus.^[8] The London Transit Commission announced that in August front door boarding will continue with new driver barriers installed and a yellow line to help with social distancing requiring passengers to stay behind the yellow line. Passengers are required to enter through the front door and exit through the back door to comply with the social distancing rules and to limit spread of the virus and bringing back fare collection although passengers with accessibility needs can still exit the front door. They also announced that routes serve Western University and Fanshawe College would return and other routes to 90% of its service levels.^[9][10]

Plans

In 2013, London Transit introduced their first semi-express route, Route 90. It initially operated between downtown and Masonville Mall via Richmond, with limited stops. In 2014, Route 90 was extended south to White Oaks Mall via Wellington Road. In addition, Route 91 was added to run on Oxford Street between Wonderland Road and Fanshawe College. In 2015, Route 92 was introduced, running from Masonville Mall to Victoria Hospital, largely via Adelaide Street. In 2019 London Transit introduced 2 more express Route 93 and Route 94. Route 93 operates from Masonville Mall and White Oaks Mall via Western/Wharncliffe and it services as a local route though the Jalna neighbourhood and it replaces Route 26. Route 94 operates via Dundas Street From Western University to Argyle Mall. In 2021 London Transit introduced Route 95 a new peak period semi express bus that will operate between White Oaks Mall and Fanshawe College via Bradley Ave and Highbury Ave as part of the 2021 service changes. Route 95 was originally to begin service in 2021. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been planned to operate service in September 2022, along with the 2022 service changes.

As of 2019, Shift, London's planned bus rapid transit network is in the design phase. It will be composed of two rapid corridors that meet in a central hub in downtown London. Construction is planned to begin in 2021 and it is estimated that it will be fully completed by 2028^[11]

In October 2021 London Transit has partnered with MagusCards to help people for those with autism or other cognitive special needs. It is the key initiatives outlined in the LTC's five-year Accessibility Plan to make the city's transit system more accessible and easier to navigate.^[12]

London Transit has also planned to make its bus fleet zero-emission electric which will replace its diesel buses with the new electric buses. The new zero emission buses are expected to roll out in 2024.^[13]

2009 transit strike

On November 16, 2009, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 741 representing bus drivers and support workers went on strike, the first transit strike for London Transit since 1980. The strike affected all public routes; however, specialized transit services for the disabled continued to operate.

To lessen the inconvenience on university students, the University of Western Ontario (UWO) increased its shuttle bus service. As well, the University Students' Council (USC) secured rental vans driven by volunteers, looping around the city picking up students at key areas and dropping them off at the university. A community-based approach was taken by the USC including a flag-a-ride program and a shuttle service for groceries. David Empey, president of the UWO staff association, was against this volunteer service, calling it "scab labour". He said it was irresponsible to set up a system which replaced the job of striking workers. Despite this, pickets were set up at the university encouraging students to help their cause. "The strike is really inconveniencing people who are paid even less than the drivers," said a third-year Western student. "This shuttle is a good idea. I had hoped they'd put something like this together. We still have to pay for our transit pass [even if there's a strike]".^[14]

On December 7, 2009, ATU turned down the LTC's "Final Offer" of 9.3% wage hike over three years. This offer was rejected by 78.5% (322 of 410) of the ATU membership.^[15]

The strike ended on December 14, 2009.^[16]

Routes

See also

• London Street Railway – the precursor to the London Transit Commission
• Public Transit in Canada

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to London Transit Commission.

• London Transit Commission Website
• Drawings and photos of London Transit buses
• ATU Local 741
• List of London Transit Buses. also History of the buses