Dear editor:

This is an open letter to members of Niagara-on-the-Lake town council.

We believe that NOTL council will be discussing resumption of transit soon at a virtual meeting, which we cannot attend or participate in, but can watch via the livestream broadcast. 

We want councillors to be aware of our concerns as they are considering a new schedule for restarting NOTL Transit. 

If the buses do resume running, we would like the town to please keep in mind the connection schedule for the regional buses going to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, and also for connection with GO Transit. It works reasonably well now, though it can mean some long trips.

For us, it would be great if the town keeps the pick-up stops the same as before the pandemic forced the buses to stop. Mary and Rose Marie are not far from the community centre.

However, Catherine catches the bus on Airport Road near the Niagara Regional Native Centre.

Unfortunately, the bus only passes that area on its way in to NOTL. So she has to ride the bus all the way to the community centre in Old Town and stay on until it heads back along Niagara Stone Road to the outlet mall or Niagara College. 

It means an extra hour of travelling time each time she uses the bus, which is three or four times a week. 

That is a long, but bearable trip because the NOTL and regional buses have been co-ordinated to meet at the outlet mall or college.

This is why we hope the town will maintain the same pickup schedule as we had before COVID.

As well, since many people and businesses don’t know about NOTL’s bus service, perhaps the town can work to promote it more.

Catherine Starrs

Mary McGrath

Rose Marie Maryschak

NOTL