Bus decision delad aygam Regular bus service to the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital is on shaky.ground as the decision on a bus system for the town was delayed "fr another two weeks. The province's Go Transit, which is in the process of taking over Charterways' bus routes in the town had intended.originally to cancel the service to WPH last week. However, GO agreed to allow Charterways to conti- nue the service until the town set up its own system. The municipal service wa to begin operations on De- cember 1. At the September 4 meet- ing of the operations commi- ttee, the issue was tabled when Councillor Joe Drum said that he had "some concerns I didn't have before." Drumm did not say what his côncerns were but did say "I have a real, solid, good reason to look at this more throughly; It probably will be straightened out, but I want a closer look at it." His motion to table the issue was supportéd by .a long time opponent of the bus system, Mayor Jim Gartshore. "I accept that you have a great concern that night scrub the whole issue," Gartshore said. "What you are saying is don't go to all that trouble because it might regected anyway." Gartshore said that *he would like to see the town take no furthur action on the issue although "I know-I would neyer get it through." Clerk-Administrator Bill Wallace tÃ"ld the cormmittee that any delay now could leave the psychiatrie hospi- tal without any service. "If we don't go, it might ,eopardize the route to the bespital," Wallace said. He also said that it will take some time to set up the system even after council gives final approval. Wallace said that the time will have to be used by the public works depa-tment to buy and set up bus stop signs, arrange the printing of tickets and transfers as well as advertising. Gartshore said that he was fnot sure whether GO would continue the WPH service afterthe December i dead- line. He also said that he did not know how many people would use the system-but believe that manyof them would be from out of town. "I really don't give a damn about supplying a bus ser- vice for people frorn out of town," he said. The only thing I'm concerned about is the town of Whitby." A GO Transit spokesmnan said that he could not com- ment until he has been in touch with the town. Archie Groth of Charter- ways said, "GO Transit has given at last ultimatum that on December moving in." 2 they are Town staff recommended at the meeting that a four route system be implemen- ted covered by two large buses running from7 a.m. p.m. daily. Fares would be 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for stu- dents, children and senior citizens. With subsidies from the province, the cost of running the system for the town would be $76,660, their report said. Sehool busing tstop when, 'Atown starts own service The parents of high school students in Whitby will have to pay $100 fares for each child as well as payiing in- creased taxes if the town goes ahead with the plan for a new bus service. The transportation mana- ger for the Durham Board of Education said last week that the school buses would probably be discontinued when the town service begins. "I would think we'would be phasing it out if the bus, system comes in," said Bill Gilfillan. "Basically, board policy says we won't bus in an urban area with public transit." At the recommended fare of 25 cents each way the cost of transportation for the-187 days of school would cost the Whitby parent $93.50 for each child. In addition to this sum, the operating deficit of the sys-, tem will add about $10 to each Whitby tax bill. Mayor Jim Gartshore, who has been opposed to the system since the issue was first raised, told a meeting of the operations committee, S.nsco September 4, that charging students would be a double taxation system. Gilfillan *.said tiaiL about 200 'high school students would be affected by the change. While elementary school pupils are not likely to be affected Gilfillan did say that "it would be subject tO review." Durham Separate School Board officials have indi-' cated that they would subsi- dize fares in some way to make sure the cost for their students does not go up, Gartshore said. Gilfillan said that both Oshawa and Ajax already operate without school buses and service is adequate with the municinal buses. "It could be an onerous situation for kids going to secondary school and possi- bly elementary school," Gartshore·said. "That has to be understood; it's a double taxation system." "If you've got two kids, it's going to cost you a buck a day," he said. "It is going to cost each individual more rmoney." nents e... Shown above (from left to right) are Durham iegion Chairman J. Walter Beath; rookie Ontario MP Scott Fennell; Ontario Minister of Transportation and Communications James Snow; and Durham West MPP George Ashe as they unviel the plague on the CPR grade separation on Boundary Road (Regional Road 23) on the Whitby-Ajax townline. The project was completed on time and within the budget of $90,000. The structure is 68. feethigh and 78 feet wide was funded- Joiù- by the federal government, the province, Durham Region and the Canadian Pacifie Railway. Durham taxpayers share of the cost was $183,500 with CPR contributing $62,500 as vell as the Transport Canada grant of $452,000 and the .rovince's $206,000. Durham Public Works Chairman Gary•Herrama said -that dhe fpderal allotment was given under the Urban Transporta tion Assistance Program. The project was started in September 1977 and was completed a short time ago. At the present time, the structure~has one track spanning it although there is room for another to be put in at a later date. Duriham Road 23 travels from Highway 2 to the northern parts of the region and is soon to be lengthened to join Highway 401 in an effort to relieve some of the traffic problems on Highway 12 p s Because of the busy traffie flow along the road, Ashe and others-have asked Snow to sigri a warrant to permit in the installation of a set of traffic lights at the intersection o Highway 2 and Boundary Road. On time and within budget Snow opens grade separation 'R E'E PR. 1 E Arp