Tag Archives: ontario
An update on Greyhound airport service
Intercity Transit, News April 24, 2017 Michael Druker	3 Comments
In a recent post we suggested that Greyhound might not have the license to operate service between Waterloo Region and the Toronto Pearson airport. Greyhound has been in touch to tell us that we're mistaken. Quoting the letter from David Butler (Regional Vice President, Eastern Canada):
Over the years Greyhound has acquired many licences through acquisitions of companies like Voyageur, Gray Coach and PMCL to supplement our own P.V. licenses. I wish to confirm that Greyhound does indeed hold all the required operating authorities to provide this service under the P.V. licences issued to it by the Ontario Highway Transport Board ("OHTB"). This was verified before the service commenced, validated with senior staff at the OHTB and, prior to their coming into force, the schedules for these services were duly filed with the OHTB as is required by regulation. Greyhound has long supported, and faithfully followed the OHTB regulations in regards to our services in Ontario.
When we had contacted the OHTB, they were unable to provide a listing of services licensed to operate between Waterloo Region and Toronto Pearson airport. They were able to provide the license when given a company name, so we had requested those for Airways Transit and Greyhound. We had not anticipated that subsidiary companies would have separate licenses. We have not yet been able to track down the specific license that applies in this case, but we do not have reason to doubt Greyhound's word here.
Mr. Butler also writes:
We are very excited about the initial response to this new service. We hope to increase frequency to match demand.
We, too, are enthusiastic about useful new transit service from Waterloo Region and increased frequency!
We're happy to have been mistaken about the status of Greyhound's airport service. The main question at this point is what exactly the province is doing in its review of intercity bus regulation. There have not been any public updates in many months. As it stands, it is hard to find information about intercity bus service in Ontario and, consequently, hard for new entrants to improve such service.
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[Updated] Is Greyhound pulling an Uber?
Intercity Transit April 21, 2017 Michael Druker	1 Comment
Update: Greyhound has reached out to let us know that they do, through a subsidiary, have a license to operate this service. Please see our new post for an update. Below is the original post.
Greyhound recently launched scheduled service between Waterloo Region and the Toronto Pearson airport, to much fanfare. To many, this is an obvious and useful connection. It is also, as best as I can tell, illegal under Ontario's Public Vehicles Act.
Ontario has a licensing system for intercity bus service (that we've written about before) which effectively grants perpetual monopolies for a private company to run scheduled service on a corridor. GO Transit, the regional transit agency operated by the provincial government, is exempt from these regulations, but prefers to avoid its buses directly competing with private carriers. Last year the Ministry of Transportation put forward a deregulation proposal that is still under review.
Greyhound and Coach Canada are the biggest beneficiaries of the current licensing regime. For Waterloo Region in particular, Greyhound provides the direct service to Toronto, Guelph, and London – and no other private carrier is allowed to. It has poor reputation among riders, but there's no other direct options. Similarly, Coach Canada provides the direct service to Hamilton. And Airways Transit provides scheduled van service to Toronto Pearson airport.
I was curious how Greyhound dealt with the system given Airways Transit's license, so I looked up recent issues of the Ontario Gazette (where new license applications must be published). Failing to find anything, I emailed the Ontario Highway Transport Board, and was able to obtain the current operating licenses for Airways Transit and for Greyhound. And indeed, Greyhound's license not only doesn't allow airport service; it explicitly prohibits it.
Greyhound is using a move from Uber's playbook, with the difference that it's already the dominant player. The same licensing system that serves to protect profitable monopoly routes for Greyhound is the one that it's apparently breaking in order to get more business.
If this is the case, it is not a tenable situation. If Greyhound can brazenly and intentionally break the rules, then there shouldn't be anything stopping anyone else from offering service that would break Greyhound's stranglehold on bus service along the Highway 401 corridor.
Photo credit: Frank Deanrdo, "Greyhound Canada" (Licensed under CC BY 2.0.)
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More ways to make your voice heard
News February 18, 2015 Mike Boos
Democracy isn't just for elections. Two weeks ago, we told you about how you can help the Region set its priorities for the next few years. But the Region isn't the only one listening – there are opportunities to engage with your governments at all levels. Below are just a few:
Snowed out sidewalks
Momentum is building for municipalities to clear sidewalks in winter. In yesterday's Record, Professor Alejandro López-Ortiz made a strong case for snowplowed sidewalks.
You can lend your voice to the growing chorus by contacting your representatives through our councillor contact form. You can also add your support to having sidewalk clearing (currently under the jurisdiction of area municipalities) considered as a strategic priority for the Region through the StratChat forum.
Provincial planning
The provincial government is also seeking input as it prepares its budget for 2015. They've set up an online forum where ideas for service delivery, investments, and efficiency can be proposed, rated, and discussed.
One idea we'd like to highlight is funding for #CycleON infrastructure. #CycleON is the province's cycling strategy, but investment in bicycle infrastructure is needed to carry it out.
Other provincial surveys and public input opportunities:
Lowering default speed limits within municipalities (Ministry of Transportation)
Climate Change Discussion Paper (Ministry of the Environment)
Waterloo's way
The City of Waterloo is also establishing its 2015-18 Strategic Plan. Visit Open City Hall to share your vision for the City.
In early spring, the possibility of protected bike lanes with Uptown streetscape redesign is expected to come to council. Let your councillors know this project has your support with our contact form.
Even more opportunities…
To stay in-the-loop on opportunities to influence transportation-related decisions, you can join our mailing list, subscribe to our calendar of public meetings, like TriTAG on Facebook, or follow TriTAG on Twitter.
Headline photo credit: waldopepper on Flickr, 2012. Licensed under CC-BY-NC.
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Let's talk about Ontario's intercity bus system
Intercity Transit, News March 17, 2014 Michael Druker	4 Comments
[Update: Our new post provides some important information about the below discussion.]
Here in Waterloo Region, people love to complain about Greyhound buses to Toronto, but few complain about Ontario intercity bus regulation as a whole. They should, as it has much to do with the relatively poor quality and availability of intercity transit here. Now Coach Canada and Pacific Western Transportation (PWT) have launched a campaign for "modernization" (read: deregulation) of the Ontario intercity bus system, with a "Where's The Bus?" website aimed at the general public.
Where's The Bus points to more competition and innovation as reasons to deregulate. And to its credit, PWT has shown innovation and competition with its successful luxury Red Arrow service between Calgary and Edmonton. But Ontario intercity bus regulation is an important issue, and one on which more than just financially interested parties should weigh in. (more…)