Frequently Asked Questions

Go Your Way is the Transportation Plan (TP) that establishes a blueprint for how the City of Burlington will address future transportation needs.  Go Your Way is intended to create a 20-year vision and implementation strategy that focuses on moving the city towards a balanced, sustainable transportation system that promotes an accessible and connected community though to 2031. 

The objective of the TP is to highlight the benefits of sustainable travel modes other than the private automobile and develop a balanced transportation system that is sustainable, integrated and reliable.  One that provides safe, efficient and affordable travel options and improved accessibility while contributing to the creation of a vibrant community which will meet and serve the city's future travel needs.

Complete streets are defined as streets that move people by foot, bike, bus and car and connect them to places where they can live, work, learn, shop and play.  Complete streets support a vibrant and economically prosperous community. 

The planning, design or redesign of a Complete Street considers the needs of all users, irrespective of age or physical ability, and accommodates all modes of travel.  Embracing and incorporating Complete Streets into the city's Transportation Plan achieves a number of direct and indirect benefits, such as:

• helping to create a balanced, multi-modal transportation system;
• encouraging people to meet their travel needs through walking, cycling and using public transit;
• supporting compact, sustainable development and more livable communities;
• promoting an active lifestyle and increased quality of life;
• enhancing the safety and security of streets for all users;
• providing accessible, convenient and efficient connections between destinations;
• promoting the economic well-being of both businesses and residents;
• promoting attractive streetscapes and increasing civic space;
• encouraging social interaction and contributing to a sense of place; and
• reducing the total amount of paved area, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the TP, the city will look at where transit services (e.g. stops, terminal) are located throughout the city in conjunction with existing pedestrian facilities (e.g. paths and sidewalks) and the degree of connectivity between services. 

Throughout the process, recommendations may be made in order to improve connectivity between transit services and pedestrian facilities. We expect that recommendations to add new paths and sidewalks may be made in order to make it easier for residents to access transit. However, other recommendations (e.g shuttle service) may be recommended as a result of the study.

Burlington Transit has recently introduced a Community Connection Service where transit will connect popular destinations within the city on a separate schedule. This service is the first of its kind for Burlington and will evolve as transit demand and usage is measured.

The province of Ontario has not included the highway through the Escarpment as an option in their current Environmental Assessment Study. However; we cannot say the issue will not be raised again in future years.

The city's Capital Works department has an annual program in place to ensure sidewalk ramps meet the province's standards as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The city also annually inspects sidewalks for trip hazards. Trip hazards are spray painted as a warning measure and then repaired in accordance with city standards. If you come across a tripping hazard, we ask that you contact the city so that the problem can be resolved.

The city has been working with local school boards to try to stagger bell times in an attempt to minimize traffic impacts during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods. The local school boards have policies in place that determine which children are eligible to be bused to school. Eligibility for bussing varies based on student age, grade level and whether the student lives in either an urban or rural setting. Students who live within walking distance to school are encouraged to use active modes of transportation like walking or riding their bikes. City staff, in conjunction with Halton Region Health Department and the local school boards, is examining the possibility of reactivating the Active and Safe Routes to School program (or something similar).

Thank you for suggestion, we will share it with our colleagues at GO Transit and Metrolinx.

To discuss the details of Burlington Transit's recent service changes and how they may impact your travels, please call BusLINE at 905-639-0550 or email contactbt@burlington.ca. A final decision on the downtown terminal has not yet been made.  

In Burlington, you can load value onto your PRESTO card using cash, debit or credit at GO Transit Stations and the Downtown Transit Terminal.  Value can also be loaded online 24 hours, seven days at week at www.prestocard.ca.

No, the city cannot overrule a developer's decision to go to the OMB. 

The planning process involves many parties including the public, landowners, developers, planners and council, each with their unique role and perspective. Through any planning process, the various perspectives are captured and considered in order to balance the interests of all of parties while maintaining a focus on serving the broader public interest.  

In Ontario, when a disagreement occurs as a result of a planning decision, or indecision of a municipal council, parties have the opportunity to bring those issues to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to provide an opportunity for a second examination of the issues. A key objective of the OMB is to assist the parties in finding a solution to the disagreement through mediation. However, in some cases, the OMB will conduct a hearing to consider all perspectives and order a decision.

To learn more about the OMB visit www.omb.gov.on.ca. If you are interested in learning more about planning and the planning process, you can check out the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning.

The City of Burlington and the City of Hamilton completed an Environmental Assessment Study to address the impact of the traffic from the Waterdown South development.  The study concluded that Waterdown Road would be the main north-south road to accommodate most of the additional traffic. Waterdown Road will be widened to accommodate four lanes of traffic; however, the road will be initially configured as a three-lane cross section.  Construction is scheduled for 2016, subject to budget deliberations.

Attracting grocery stores and other fresh food stores to neighbourhoods is a common problem. Many areas once served by small local grocers have struggled as food chains consolidate locations and moved to larger facilities serving larger areas. There is even a term for these neighbourhoods - they are referred to as "food deserts," which describes the lack availability of fresh food.

The city recognizes the importance of having local grocers in a number of locations to serve surrounding neighbourhoods and communities. We have been actively working with the local BIA's to attract a grocer to the downtown and Aldershot community. To assist with this work, the city is studying what grocery retailers look for when choosing locations, so that we can identify potential sites that meet their criteria and proactively market those locations.

The city currently offers a secure, sheltered bike rack located within the downtown parking garage on Locust Avenue.

In addition, 24 public art bike racks have been installed throughout the downtown, and sheltered facilities are also located at the Visitor Information Centre, Tansley Woods and Brant Hills community centres, as well as at numerous hotels throughout the downtown core.  Each facility offers secure bike racks, cycling maps and a bike repair kit.  We anticipate more facilities will be provided as our cycling network expands and additional infrastructure is put in place.