Bus Rapid Transit could combat rising emissions and increase well-being in Brampton

Bramptonguardian.ca
Jan. 25, 2023

A recent report from the Atmospheric Fund shows that carbon emissions in Brampton are back on the rise and will soon reach pre-pandemic levels.

To reach 2030 climate targets, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area needs to decrease emissions by eight per cent annually.

While we witnessed some reductions in 2020 due to the pandemic, we saw the opposite in 2021. Emissions rose by 4.5 per cent across the GTHA, in large part due to transportation as more people commuted to in-person work again.

The key to achieving our 2030 climate targets is investing in public transportation.

The proposed Queen Street-Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit Project would help us get there.

As a student, I remember taking the 501 Queen Zum bus to connect to the TTC because it was more affordable than a GO bus or train. While I appreciated Zum for its fewer stops, we would still inevitably get caught in traffic. Anyone from Brampton knows what’s it's like to be stuck in traffic on Queen Street.

That’s why the BRT project is key. It proposes dedicated bus lanes along Queen Street and Highway 7 in Brampton and Vaughan.

The first of its kind in Brampton, it would be faster and more reliable than the existing Zum line, which already serves more than 28,000 transit customers each weekday. This number will only increase as Brampton’s population is estimated to grow by 40 to 50 per cent over the next 25 years.

The proposed 24-kilometre corridor would connect downtown Brampton to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the TTC subway system, York University, Richmond Hill and Markham. This would be a game changer for students and professionals alike.

But this proposal won’t become reality without broad public support. While Brampton and Vaughan municipal and regional councils are all on board with this Metrolinx-led project, neither the provincial nor federal government has committed any funding.

On Jan. 26, you can show your support by attending an online public consultation. This is your chance to hear from the Metrolinx project team, voice your opinion and ask questions about funding and timelines. We can push for a strong funding commitment so construction can start as soon as possible.

Bus Rapid Transit would take “busing” (as we Bramptonians like to say) to a whole other level, making it faster and more convenient than driving. Instead of passengers gazing enviously out of bus windows at drivers in their shiny cars (as I used to), they would be speeding past, scrolling their phones as drivers lag behind in traffic gazing enviously at the bus.

In time, tens of thousands of commuters would ditch their cars in favour of transit, as we’ve seen in York region, where BRT has increased ridership by up to 67 per cent since 2018.

The Queen Street-Highway 7 BRT project could make Brampton a climate leader, putting us ahead of other cities in Ontario in reducing emissions. It would also significantly improve our community’s well-being by improving access to job opportunities, universities and colleges, all while making life more equitable and affordable for everyone.