Surprise! Some BRT stations and routes will be semi-operational this fall
Another piece of London’s bus rapid transit network (BRT) has gone from concept to reality.
The first rapid transit station is being assembled along the East London Link corridor at Ontario and King Streets.
Since arriving on Tuesday, the key component in the future BRT Network has been rapidly assembled.
“Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding fiber, electrical, and other amenities," said Jennie Dann, director of construction and infrastructure services for the City of London.
But why the rush? After all, BRT is a long way from its 2027 completion date.
As it turns out, the city views the new eastbound Ontario at King Station as a test run.
“It is, like we mentioned, kind of the pilot,” shared Ardian Spahiu, the project manager overseeing the installation of all 45 stations.
Jennie Dann is director of construction and infrastructure services for the City of London. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
Spahiu expects as many as a dozen of them will be completed by the end of this year. He estimates each one has a price tag in the neighbourhood of $250,000.
All will have some big city transit amenities, including arrival/departure signage and more seating.
But CTV News London asked a key question yet to be answered — Will the new stations be heated in winter?
Dann says the answer is trending toward “Yes” for some high-passenger volume stops.
“We have future-proofed all of the shelters to be able to accommodate heating. We have identified some along the corridors where there is potentially a longer wait time.”
Spahiu said the new stations will also be equipped with 24/7 security to protect from frequent vandalism seen at existing transit shelters.
“We want to be monitoring these to minimize as much damage as possible," he said.
Earlier, Dann confirmed the BRT downtown loop and a section of bus-only lanes on King Street will be semi-operational this year, using existing buses.
Ardian Spahiu, an acting division manager with the City of London is overseeing the installation of all 45 BRT stations. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“If you’re wondering when buses will start using this first shelter, we’re targeting the fall to see a bit more transit activity along the east London link corridor.”
But it will be 2027 before London’s new fleet of modern extended Rapid Transit buses are in use along the entire BRT Network.
It will encompass the Downtown Loop, East London Link, and the Wellington Gateway.
The city opted not to build BRT corridors in west and north London.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
After more than 100 years, Newfoundland's unknown soldier returns home
An unknown Newfoundland soldier, who fought and died on the battlefields in northeastern France during the First World War, is back home this weekend for the first time in more than a hundred years.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 starts after 4-hour rain delay with Kyle Larson in the field
The Indianapolis 500 started Sunday after a rain delay of four hours with NASCAR star Kyle Larson still at the track and in the race.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.