Anti-BRT Londoner calls for rapid transit plebiscite during 2018 election

London city council is ready to turn the page on bus rapid transit, but not everyone in the community is.

Londoner Scott Jackson is calling on city politicians to make support of rapid transit a ballot issue during next year’s municipal election.

In a letter to the corporate services committee, Jackson writes, “I think that with the enormous cost of bus rapid transit that it should be put on the ballot so the taxpayers of the city of London can have a say whether they want this put in or not.”

The call for a plebiscite comes months after city council approved routes for BRT and after a 45-day public consultation period that began in early August.

Jackson said the cost of the deal is a concern for him.

“Why would city council just make a decision that’s going to cost that much money, I think it’s something that should be put on a ballot for Londoners to see whether they’d use it or think it’s a good idea,” he said.

London has pledged $130 million towards the overall cost of $500 million. The provincial and federal government have both mentioned funding rapid transit in London, but neither has confirmed they will help cover the remaining $370 million.

Jackson faces an uphill battle in his effort to get the issue on the ballot for the 2018 election. Many current members of city council spoke about rapid transit during the 2014 election, and have now approved both the routes and the overall master plan.

“I don’t think that many people will use it. It’s going to take up a lot of lanes on the road, Richmond Street is going to be down to a two-lane road in parts of it, Oxford Street the same thing. That’s going to cause a lot of congestion,” he said.

While it remains to be seen if politicians will respond favourably to Jackson’s request at next Wednesday’s committee meeting, the BRT will be a major issue in 2018 regardless of whether it’s officially on the ballot.

Paul Cheng, who ran for mayor in 2014, has said he intends to run again in 2018 and has come out against bus rapid transit. Former London Police Services Board budget chief Paul Paolatto has also said he’s considering a run for the mayor’s chair and has been critical of council during the rapid transit process.

Paolatto has pledged to “re-do” rapid transit if elected mayor.

The 24-kilometre BRT network will see the high-frequency buses run along L and 7 shaped corridors inside the city. Buses will run from Oxford and Wonderland Road in the west, to White Oaks Mall in the south and from Masonville Place in the north to Fanshawe College in the east, with both corridors running through the downtown.

Next year’s municipal election will be held Oct. 22.