Transit Hub Expansions Planned to Increase Bus Service

U of G bus service will increase and improve this spring with planned expansions to the University Centre transit hub.

Construction will provide new bus bays and shelters — including on the south side of South Ring Road — and new passenger platforms, and will involve changes to adjacent parking lot exits.

The University community is invited to learn about the planned expansion and to view plans at a town hall meeting March 30 at 1:30 p.m. in the University Centre, Room 103.

Guelph Transit and GO Transit will run more buses to and from campus starting this summer. In total, about 620 buses will travel through the expanded bus loop every day.

“We will be expanding to accommodate the planned changes and making improvements to address some current operational concerns,” said Ian Weir, Guelph’s manager of parking services and transportation planning.

With more travellers expected to use transit services to and from the University, he said, U of G is working with transit companies to improve services and access for University and community members.

Guelph Transit will be improving service to nine routes, with frequency increasing to one bus every 15 minutes. Four new Guelph Transit bus bays and new bus shelters will be built south of South Ring Road on the east side of the loop.

To help ensure pedestrian safety, new walkways and crossings with activated signals will be installed on each side of the South Ring Road and University Centre main-entrance intersection. Also, new concrete sidewalks will be added from Christie Lane to connect with Winegard Walk on the north side.

GO Transit will increase its weekday bus service as well. To make room for the expansion, the connection to the bus loop entrance at parking lot P42 will be closed. Vehicles will enter and exit P42 only from its west access to Christie Lane.

Greyhound and Aboutown, which provides bus service to and from Hamilton, will continue to use current stops in the bus loop.

Vehicular access on the north end of the bus loop will still be restricted to buses and emergency vehicles.

“These changes will create a more efficient and accessible environment for all transit users,” said Weir.