Brock University\u2019s Students\u2019 Union had the ear of local politicians Thursday when it presented the findings of a student transit survey.<\/p>\n
The survey was conducted to find out the types of transportation students use, when they use it and whether they are satisfied with the U-Pass program.<\/p>\n
Students enrolled in 1.5 credits or more ride buses in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland for free, with a mandatory fee worked into their tuition.<\/p>\n
Spencer Dawson, BUSU Vice-President of Finance and Administration, said BUSU \u201cwants to make sure our students are getting good value.\u201d
\nThe student union is a big proponent of a seamless inter-municipal transit system.<\/p>\n
Dawson said inter-municipal transit would help attract GO bus and train service to Niagara, which would benefit Brock and the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo attract people, especially young, professional students to Niagara and Brock, we need a way to get them here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said 3,093 students completed the survey, offering good insight into ridership.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost students are using it on weekdays and to get to and from school,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The most riders are in St. Catharines followed by Thorold, Niagara Falls and Welland.<\/p>\n
Just over half of the students who responded use the U-Pass daily and nearly 77 per cent said the program should continue indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Antonio Sergi, BUSU Vice-President of External Affairs, said the amount of responses to the survey shows students are engaged and interested in the issue.<\/p>\n
He said a key goal of BUSU is to advocate for inter-municipal transit in Niagara Region and to lobby in favour of GO service.<\/p>\n
Sergi said BUSU made a presentation to the region\u2019s public works department to inform them of student ridership and expectations. That data, he said, will be included in the Niagara Region Transportation Master Plan.<\/p>\n
Regional Chair Alan Caslin said the region has created a task force with the goal of finding the best way to provide an inter-municipal transit system incorporating St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland.<\/p>\n
West Lincoln Mayor Doug Joyner told the group he recently rode transit with Dawson and Sergi from Hamilton to Brock. They wanted to see if a student could take a bus from Hamilton to make an 8 a.m. class at the University.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe answer was absolutely not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The exercise has led to brainstorming and pushing for ways to shorten the ride, including looking into the GO bus stop route in St. Catharines, Joyner said.<\/p>\n
He said the question of whether the GO bus could stop at Brock before the Fairview Mall and downtown St. Catharines is being asked.<\/p>\n
Brian Hutchings, Brock\u2019s Vice-President, Administration, said the survey results match the University\u2019s data, which shows that 70 per cent of the 18,000 students at Brock use public transit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe bring in almost 12,000 students from the GTA \u2013 living in St. Catharines and Thorold and using public transportation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Following the presentation, politicians went on a bus ride-along with the student union representatives.<\/p>\n
BUSU said some of the survey feedback included the need for extended weekend bus service, more bus routes, and longer hours of operation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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