Mayor Thompson announces Bus Route 38 to remain on the road

December 5, 2019 · 0 Comments

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

Many Caledon residents have come together to form a movement to prevent GO Bus Route 38 from being cancelled. Members have attended several council meetings, and have been working hard to bring awareness to the route that many used to commute.

Their voices have been heard.

Mayor Allan Thompson announced on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that Metrolinx and The Ministry of Transportation has decided to extend the Bolton GO route 38.

“Good news for Bolton residents! We have received confirmation from Metrolinx and Ontario Transportation that they have extended Route 38 and together we will work to grow ridership,” said Mayor Thompson in a Facebook post late afternoon.

The route was intended to be cancelled back in June, but due to the community’s response, Metrolinx extended the service for a six-month period.

The Caledon residents, known collectively as ‘Move Bolton’ united together to bring awareness and understanding to the Town of Caledon, as well as the transit agency on the vitality of the route.

Transit user Lorraine Marchione spoke on the behalf of Caledon commuters at a council meeting back in October, and since then Move Bolton has worked endlessly on keeping their Bus 38 on the road.

On Dec 3, Marchione and two co-riders who played a huge part in keeping the Bus 38 alive, Mike Brunetto and Paula Campoli-Gregoris, stood in front of council to thank them for the support and dedication to their movement.

“We have been working very closely with the Town and I think this is the fourth time we’ve come here. Once every month, (we come) to really try to promote transit and to get the support from the town to advocate for the ridership on the GO bus 38, which was slated to be terminated at the end of this year,” explained Marchione. “It’s been a long road. We really want to work in a coordinated fashion with the Town, to make sure that we have the leadership with the mayor, working with the minister, to try to advocate for transit and to keep the GO bus 38 alive.”

She added, “We’re all here together to thank you for your advocacy for us, we are thrilled to hear the news that Metrolinx has announced that they will continue service, but we’re also here to let you know that the key issue is scheduling now.”

The road doesn’t end here for Move Bolton. They continue to work together to improve scheduling, and promote transit to get more people off the highways and onto the bus.

Mayor Thompson gave a shout out to MPP Sylvia Jones, who played a heavy part in extending the service for GO bus 38, while also acknowledging several other ministers who all bound together to support the transit route and its riders.

Coun. Annette Groves, Coun. Tony Rosa and Coun. Nick deBoer all shared their thanks to the riders of Move Bolton for their hard work and dedication.

“Having residents with strong voices like yourselves, who were committed to being the voice for those riders, and to those students in post-secondary and for people who need to get to work, and the whole idea of connecting communities. It’s truly exemplary work on your behalf, and it was an honour and privilege to work with your group,” expressed Coun. Rosa.

Move Bolton and the Town will continue to work together to improve transit within, and around our community for the future.