City of Brampton draft 2025 budget has been released. I haven't verified this myself but apparently:
https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Budget/Pages/Budget-Documents.aspx
Big highlights:
- 2.9% property tax increase, $194 per household
- Massive investment in transit new facility and 52,000 additional service hours for Brampton Transit "anticipating higher-order transit operation (LRT, BRT etc.)"
- New DC study commissioned to study effects of Peel service transition
The part in quotes is the interpretation of the person who sent it to me. I'm not sure why they are saying "operation" for the LRT since I don't think it's opening in 2025...
The part in Bold is their anticipation of the LRT starting sometime this year, which I really don't see happening at all. We're looking at 2026-2027 given just how far behind many parts of the LRT are. In Mississauga, they barely have much done between Port Credit and other sections in Mississauga, not to mention the section in Brampton having been stalled for quite some time. The plan was to get the LRT into downtown Brampton and replace most of the 502 service on other routes. Once we know what Metrolinx/Mobilinx Hurontario LRT are doing, it'll be more clear from the Brampton Transit side.
Patrick Brown had mentioned in one of his meetings that him and the provincial government had come to an agreement on what the plan is for the Brampton Extension of the HMLRT, but that was several months ago, and he had mentioned that more information would be released within a couple of weeks from that announcement. Unfortunately, it seems that either the government had walked back on their information, or it was a fib to stir the pot.
You don't think the Hurontario LRT will open in 2025 to Steeles? So you're w/Mayor Parrish on that.........(She said 2026).........given that the line had an opening date in Fall '24 at one point..........
Sigh.
BRT could include anything 'Zum' I suppose (BRT-lite, anyway)
For those that would like to parse the details, the transit budget begins on page 548 of the above linked document.
I really don't think they'll open in 2025. There's still a fair amount of construction that needs to be done in Cooksville, Port Credit, Derry West, and the Peel Village area. The station stops are barely completed except for Derry, and part of Courtneypark, but it leaves much to be desired at this point. Then we have Metrolinx telling everyone that their project work is not in spec, and it will have to be torn out and redone. They've already done it to some sections due to mistakes, which sets the project back weeks, if not months.
There is no hope in hell that the LRT will see service in 2025 and will be real hard to see it in service by late 2026 and that depends on the loop. It been said service for the current line under construction will be 2027-28
Will the Brampton Steeles be built on the southside as per contract like they did for the straight track at Burnhamthorpe where the WYE was to be for the Loop or will ML provide the funds to move it to the northside to match the extension to Brampton downtown??? Will Brampton extension go underground base on what council wants at extra $2 Billion cost to the line or remain on the surface as plan from day one for a total of $900 million?? $900m vs $2.9B will buy a lot of votes.
To fix the mistake at Burnhamthorpe to put in the WYE will take 4-6 months and disrupt traffic badly to tear out most of the trackwork and rebuilt. Unless the intersection is fully close like TTC projects, it could be done in 3 months working 7/24 as the trackwork not close to TTC standards. Don't see the intersection being close for this its a major intersection since Hurontario is Mississauga busy transit route with little options to get around it with out being in gridlock 7 days a week.
If Brampton extension is a tunnel, it will not see service until 2030 plus that will require BT 502 to be beef up to meet the increase of ridership as well service hours and hope the city is planning for that.
If they do service in 2027-2028, that's much more attainable than expecting a 2025 launch. I really don't see that happening right now. Especially when we have to burn in the LRV's, check the track, do an entire walk or drive from Port Credit all the way into Brampton, etc etc. There's a lot more than just throwing track down, but we know this.
The biggest issue with the Brampton extension and why they're vying so hard for the tunnel instead of the surface route is a mix of two things, one of which they will never mention in public documents, but is well known by those who live in Brampton. Downtown Brampton is similar to Mineola wherein you have people who have nice houses and think that a surface line is going to ruin the value of their houses and the area. They believe it's going to look absolutely horrible, and will affect traffic going in and out of downtown Brampton, which... To be honest with you, has always been an issue for as long as I've lived here. The other reason why they want the tunnel extension instead of the surface route is because of how quickly they'd be able to move people through Downtown Brampton. It aligns with their 2040 vision where they'd like to convert most of the area downtown to a walkable space with very little car traffic.
What happened with the wye that they need to tear it out? Did they put it in the wrong section or did something happen due to cars driving over it? I've been in the area and have no clue.
I agree with the 502 comment. What I've been told is that they have a lot of Zum buses on order. With that being said, the way service increases can work for the 502 is simple.
- The 504 has a route starting from Sandalwood and Chinguacousy that makes stops along the route, connecting to Gateway Terminal (Shoppers World). From there, it can pick up those who are using the 511 route to go to Bramalea GO, instead of travelling on the same bus of those who take it to Humber College.
- With this support, they can reallocate some buses from 511 to 502.
- They also have a 104 service that runs as an express to Gateway, bypassing some stops along the way. This service was intended to be discontinued once the HMLRT launches with the 504, with the fleet being reallocated, but may run in tandem with the #4, #4A, #504 along Chinguacousy, and #511 once it hits Steeles and Chinguacousy. The #104 was essentially the #504 before a Zum route was considered.
As for the #4 route, they're looking to change the way this route works by making the start point the same as the 504, and introduce a new route that would serve those around the Mayfield Road area (6/26/27), and replace part of the old #4 route.. The 4A will still operate out of Mount Pleasant GO, and will partially replace the 104 route. Eventually, Brampton Transit wants to do a grid of all their buses so that they're taking less time for turns, and potentially decreasing their stop times along various routes.
They can also run the 502 on non-Zum buses, as they have for other routes when some of the Zum fleet is in the shop for service, so I think they'll be okay with ridership in the interim.
Page 3 - Chinguacousy Zum
Page 9 - Brampton Transit realignments for Chinguacousy Zum
Page 10 - Future Service Concepts - North Brampton
