As presented by Councillor Lapierre:
WHEREAS public transportation is an essential form of safe and reliable travel for residents to access vital services in the community;
AND WHEREAS in 2019, through the Greater Sudbury Transit Action Plan: Better Routes, Better Schedules, Better Service, Greater Sudbury Transit was transformed into GOVA, which resulted in a more reliable and improved transit system;
AND WHEREAS GOVA staff monitor transit routes, bus stops, and ridership levels in an effort to continuously improve the GOVA rider experience;
AND WHEREAS the Hanmer/Val Therese area is one of the fastest growing areas of the City, with multiple multi-residential developments being constructed;
AND WHEREAS Council for the City of Greater Sudbury approved the Valley East Twin pad project to be constructed along Elmview Drive;
AND WHEREAS Dominion Drive from MR80 to Elmview Drive, and Elmview Drive itself are designated collector roads;
AND WHEREAS collector roads are routes often utilized by GOVA for ridership pickup & drop off;
AND WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic forced a reduction in transit service levels nationwide;
AND WHEREAS GOVA Staff performed a system review and analysis of pre-pandemic ridership levels on all 23 conventional transit routes;
AND WHEREAS GOVA transit routes designated as having low pre-pandemic ridership were cancelled, this included the Route 105 Dominion Drive pattern;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury direct staff to present a business case to re-introduce GOVA service along Dominion Drive and Elmview Drive for Council's consideration during the 2023 budget deliberations.