A city committee is on board with London’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) master plan.
The strategic priorities and policy committee approved the latest edition of the $500-million plan 10-2 Monday night. Full council is expected to make the plan official when they meet on Tuesday.
READ MORE: London $500M Bus Rapid Transit plan to be reviewed by city committee
Those opposed to the plan were Councillors Phil Squire and Michael Van Holst, who couldn’t overlook a traffic analysis that showed downtown intersections would be busier with BRT.
The revised master plan included an extension of the southern line from White Oaks Mall, one kilometre south to a park and ride facility at Exeter Road. That wasn’t part of the plan that went back to staff two months ago.
A 45-day public consultation period will begin on Aug. 3.
“I think what’s really important for us now is to go through the 45-day review period, hear from the public what implementation looks like for them and start working very specifically in neighbourhoods and along specific corridors about the conflicts the public is going to bring to us, as well as the ones through the technical work,” said Environmental and Engineering director Kelly Scherr.
“I don’t want to presuppose the outcome, but I do know that there will be conflicts with private property and with congestion.”
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One of the items that was left off the funding list was the Adelaide Street overpass.
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Once the master plan is approved, the city can proceed with funding requests from the province and the feds. London has committed $130 million towards the BRT project, which means another $370 million is needed.
The environmental assessment process will continue following the Transit Project Assessment Process.
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