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New grid system bringing riders to Oakville Transit Continued from page 1 3 · Wednesday, October 19, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com way, Cole said there was a one per cent increase in Oakville Transit ridership for 2006, followed by none in 2007, a two per cent jump in 2008, none in 2009, but then a seven per cent increase in 2010 and a 10 per cent jump is expected for 2011. "There is no reason to believe we won't surpass the three million-ride mark next year," said Cole, adding, local transit has seen a number of changes this year. Oakville was the first community to fully implement the Presto Fare Card System and is participating in the Halton Region's SPLIT (Subsidized Pass for Low Income Transit) program. Local transit provides a pass, which costs 50 per cent less than what an adult monthly pass costs, to any member of a household at or below the lowincome cut off as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency. All local buses are now equipped with bike racks and all but three buses are fully accessible. The fleet is expected to be 100 per cent accessible by next year at which point the priority will shift to making all bus stops in town fully accessible. Cole said the number of bus shelters in the town has also increased from 122 in 2008 to 201 in 2011. One of the bigger steps forward for Oakville Transit this year, Cole said, came in April with the opening of its new facility. The 16-acre, 265,000 sq.-ft. facility can store 175 buses and was built with infrastructure stimulus funding from all three levels of government. "We have a facility now in Oakville that will accommodate the growth of transit for the OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO FILLING UP: Oakville Transit ridership is continuing to grow, according to authorities. next 25 to 30 years," said Cole. Cole compared Oakville Transit with other GTA and Ontario transit services. On the amount of service hours offered by the municipality per capita, local transit came in just below the average of 1.25 with 1.17. On municipal contribution per capita, Oakville again came in just below the average of $59.89 with $59.26. In the area of cost of service per hour, local transit was well below the average of $92.48 with $74.82. When asked by councillors about complaints they have received from residents about buses running empty, Cole said empty buses can be found in any transit system. "What I generally hear at Transit are complaints from people that we don't have enough buses or that there is not enough service or that there was no room on the bus." "I'm not denying for a second there are empty or nearempty buses and I presented to the budget committee last year indicating why that is. It's proximity to the end of the line, direction of travel, time of f day, all those things. The norm for transit service is to have empty buses and within 10 minutes of driving into any municipality in Ontario, and I include Toronto at rush hour, I will get you a picture of six empty buses in 10 minutes." Inside d Opinion............................................6 Wheels...........................................14 Artscene.........................................16 Sports.............................................18 Classified........................................21 Full Delivery: Real Estate, Sport Chek, Rona, Sunshades Window, JYSK, Shopping News Partial Delivery: Henry's Camera, Bouclair, Home Depot, National Sports, Ideal Home, XS Cargo For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 8459742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money is to announce that DR. R. RAINA RAIN SHANKARDASS LAKESHORE LANE LAK LAKES LA DENTAL · Family & Cosmetic dentistry ry · White fillings · Preventive dental care · Root ot canal therapy · Crown, brid bridges & veneers · Digital tal X-rays · Dentures De entures · Implants nts · Invisalign (Invi nvisible visib Braces) · Zoom tee teeth whiten tening has as taken ta over Peter Watson MBA, CFP, P R.F.P F P., CIM, FCSI We Welcome New Patients Extended Hours Evening and Saturday Appointments Available 905-844-3940 Randall all St. Trafalgar g Rd. Church St. P 301 Lakeshore Road East, Downtown Oakville * P Lakeshore Rd. E. Robinson St. 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com We sell the most homes in Canada. Let us help you sell yours. w.remaxaboutowne.com Aboutowne Reality Corp., Brokerage 905-338-9000 (Downtown Office) 905-842-7000 (Uptown Office) Independently owned and operated.