Ontario Northland bus station cuts will hurt ridership: union

Morning North4:01Ontario Northland bus service cuts

The union representing bus drivers for Ontario Northland is worried service cuts will hurt ridership. Bus stations in Englehart and Matheson will be closed and bus station hours will be cut at other locations. We heard from the head of the drivers' union.

The union that represents OntarioNorthlandbus drivers is worried cuts to bus stations in the north will lead to lower ridership and reductions in bus service in the future.

OntarioNorthlandis closingitsbus stations inEnglehartandMatheson. It's also setting the new reduced hours for the following stations:

• NewLiskeard:10 a.m. to 7 p.m., MondaytoFriday
• Kirkland Lake:8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MondaytoFriday
• Sudbury:9 a.m. to 6 p.m., MondaytoFriday

Thecutbacks to the OntarioNorthlandbus stations could reduce ridership,andeventually lead to cuts to bus routes, saidTonyWentzell, the general chairperson of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference local that represents OntarioNorthlandbus drivers.

"We are a seven day a week, 24-hour service, and we have buses on the road all times of the night and day," he said. "People need these stations for a place to layover while they are catching one bus and transferring on to another, or just to wait out of the weather for the bus to arrive."

The changes are needed to streamline the service so it is more sustainable, said OntarioNorthlandspokespersonRebeccaMcGlynn.

Cutting weekend hours at bus stations will only affect the way people wait for the bus," she added.

"We want to reinforce that the bus is going to operate on its same scheduled service that it normally does. The bus stations in NewLiskeard, Kirkland Lake andSudburywill act as bus stops [on weekends] and people can go there to catch the bus and be dropped off."

OntarioNorthlandis also looking for a businesses to partner with inEnglehartandMathesonso people can still buy tickets and send packages once the bus stations in those communities close.

The changes to bus stationswill take effect on Friday, May 22.

Passenger notices will be issued and posted in stations, agencies and the website, OntarioNorthlandsaid, adding itwill also be holding community information sessions to update affected communities about changes.

In December, Ontario Northland buses also stopped going into the Sudbury community of Levack. The bus now stops along Highway 144 at theWindy Lake Motel & Restaurant.