Stevenson calls for a pause on North and West BRT expansion

LONDON, ON — Mayoral candidate Susan Stevenson is calling for a pause on further commitments to North and West Bus Rapid Transit expansion, pointing to a City procurement document that sets out concrete steps toward advancing both corridors.

“Londoners are still living with construction on the South and East corridors, while City Hall is preparing the next phase,” said Stevenson. “Mayor Josh Morgan needs to explain the full cost, the impact on traffic, and what London taxpayers would be expected to pay.”

The City’s Request for Pre-Qualifications 2026-278 seeks consultants for an addendum to its transit environmental assessment. The scope includes preliminary design, property requirements, updated cost estimates, and implementation planning. The anticipated study schedule runs from fall 2026 to fall 2027.

An August 31, 2026 London Transit report also records Council’s allocation of $980,000 for a supplemental North rapid transit environmental study.

“BRT 2.0 is already moving through the planning process,” Stevenson said. “Londoners should not have to follow procurement notices to understand what could happen to their streets and their taxes.”

The North and West corridors were not advanced for senior-government funding in March 2019. Stevenson said bringing them forward again requires a clear explanation of what has changed and a comparison with other ways to improve transit.

As Mayor, Stevenson would seek Council support to pause further discretionary expansion commitments while existing obligations are reviewed, and require:

• Full cost disclosure covering existing commitments, proposed expansion, confirmed funding, and exposure to overruns.
• A coordinated construction plan addressing traffic, business access, emergency routes, and overlapping roadwork.
• Costed alternatives and public input including frequency, express service, and better connections to jobs and growing neighbourhoods, before Council decides the way forward.

“I want reliable transit and roads that work,” said Stevenson. “Londoners deserve to know the full bill before City Hall makes the next commitment.”