Commuters in LaSalle can hop bus starting in September

System expects to attract up to 45,000 customers annually within four years

A long-awaited new public transit system is coming to LaSalle.

Transit Windsor has been chosen to provide bus service beginning in September. The town will purchase two buses and install bus shelters and signage.

The town asked Transit Windsor to submit a business case in August 2016 after an extensive feasibility study was conducted by Torontobased transportation consulting firm Steer Davies Gleave.

The proposed fixed route will travel from St. Clair College through the town’s commercial district over to Front Road and to the Vollmer Complex along major roads such as Normandy Street, Malden Road, Reaume Road and Laurier Drive.

Connections to three Transit Windsor routes can be accessed at St. Clair College.

CAO Kevin Miller said heavily-populated neighbourhoods will have access on the eastbound-westbound route.

“We put in a route that we believe captures a majority of households,” he said.

Treasurer Joe Milica said the town has a target of 40,000 to 45,000 riders per year and it will take four or five years to get there.

“It takes time to build ridership,” Milica said.

A one-way trip through the route will take about 45 minutes. A trip from St. Clair College to the town centre would take about 20 minutes.

Miller said the new bus system will come within 400 metres of 70 to 75 per cent of households. It’s estimated there will be 150 riders on weekdays and 75 on weekends.

Two buses are expected to run Monday to Friday during peak morning and evening times — one bus will run for 12 hours and another for eight hours a day. In addition, one bus will run all day Saturdays.

New buses may not arrive for the September start but Transit Windsor has agreed to take two from their existing fleet for use until the new buses arrive.

Miller said the net cost for the first full year of operation is approximately $714,000 with $286,000 anticipated in revenue from gas tax revenue and fares. No fares will be collected for the first four months of service.

Capital from reserves will be used to pay the remainder.

Town officials are also entering into discussions with StreetSeen Media company to formulate branding and advertising opportunities both on and inside the buses and bus stops.

In other business, council approved changes to development requirements in the Bouffard and Howard Planning Districts class environmental assessment addendum.

A group of landowners and developers sought changes to the town’s stormwater management and drainage requirements to make them more affordable.

The new plan allows for smaller-scale systems — realignment of some drains, an increase in the number of ponds — that will allow one or several groups of landowners to get together to install the infrastructure.

The systems will eventually tie together as land is developed.

A final report is expected at the end of April.