Bus Stop Balancing
Bus stop balancing involves the thoughtful removal and/or relocation of bus stops along a route to achieve more consistent spacing, maintain convenient access, and provide faster, more reliable service for our customers.
Fewer bus stops along a route can result in shorter travel times, improved reliability, smoother and safer rides, and more efficient operations. These efficiencies help reduce fuel use, vehicle wear, and operating costs, allowing savings to be reinvested into other transit service improvements. Bus stop balancing can also benefit non-riders by improving traffic flow and freeing up curb space.
Future Bus Stop Balancing
Bus stop balancing will continue on other routes in the future, with more reviews starting in the Spring 2026. Future changes will be guided by ridership data, service performance, accessibility and safety needs, and community feedback to improve service while maintaining safe and convenient access.
Pilot Project Overview
Thunder Bay Transit conducted a six-week Bus Stop Balancing Pilot Project from November 14 – December 14, on select routes to test how adjusting closely spaced bus stops could improve travel time, reliability, and efficiency while still maintaining convenient and safe access for customers.
Pilot Project Conclusion and Outcomes
The Bus Stop Balancing Pilot Project will end on Sunday, December 14, with most stop changes becoming permanent on Monday, December 15. Decisions were based on public feedback, operator input, ridership data, travel time, and accessibility and safety considerations, helping ensure the final changes improve efficiency while maintaining convenient and safe access for customers.
Thank You for Your Feedback
Community input was an important part of this project. Thunder Bay Transit sincerely thanks everyone who took the time to share feedback, complete the survey, or contact Transit during the pilot. Public feedback was carefully considered and played a key role in shaping the final outcomes of the project.
Permanent Bus Stop Changes
Route 10 – Northwood
The following stop changes will remain in effect permanently:
| Stop Location | Action |
|---|
1251 Victoria & Selkirk | Removed |
1257 Victoria & Oakwood | Removed |
1280 Edward & Miles | Removed |
1645 Churchill & Parkway | Removed |
1649 Redwood & Cambrian | Removed |
1652 Redwood & Limbrick | Removed |
1656 Redwood & Spruce | Removed |
1240 Edward & Park Row | Removed |
1243 Victoria & Oakwood | Removed |
1577 Donald & Archibald | Reinstated |
Route 14 – Arthur
The following stop changes will remain in effect permanently:
| Stop Location | Action |
|---|
1495 Arthur & Franklin | Removed |
1499 Arthur & Lillie | Removed |
1502 Arthur & Edward | Removed |
1508 Arthur & Leland | Relocated (before Heath St) |
1509 Arthur & Madison | Removed |
1510 Arthur & James | Removed |
1512 Arthur & Mountdale | Relocated (across Mountdale Ave) |
1513 Arthur & Riverview | Removed |
1519 Arthur & Sifton | Relocated (before Chilton Ave) |
1520 Arthur & Willard | Removed |
1524 Arthur & Highway 61 | Removed |
1529 Arthur & Leland | Removed |
1538 Arthur & Marks | Removed |
1870 Hawker & Arthur | New Stop Added |
Infrastructure Updates
Permanent removal, relocation, and addition of bus stop infrastructure will begin in the New Year. Until that work is completed, removed stops will remain bagged and temporary bus stop signage will be used where required.
Why is Bus Stop Balancing Important?
In many areas, bus stops in Thunder Bay are too close together. Bus stops should be spaced 250 to 500 metres apart (a 3 – 6-minute walk). However, on some routes more than half of stops are closer together, with some appearing twice on the same block.
When stops are too close together:
- Buses spend more time slowing down, pulling into stops, waiting for traffic to pass, and pulling back out.
- This increases travel time for everyone onboard.
By thoughtfully removing and consolidating stops, travel time is reduced and service becomes more reliable.
Bus Stop Balancing
Bus stop balancing involves the thoughtful removal and/or relocation of bus stops along a route to achieve more consistent spacing, maintain convenient access, and provide faster, more reliable service for our customers.
Fewer bus stops along a route can result in shorter travel times, improved reliability, smoother and safer rides, and more efficient operations. These efficiencies help reduce fuel use, vehicle wear, and operating costs, allowing savings to be reinvested into other transit service improvements. Bus stop balancing can also benefit non-riders by improving traffic flow and freeing up curb space.
Future Bus Stop Balancing
Bus stop balancing will continue on other routes in the future, with more reviews starting in the Spring 2026. Future changes will be guided by ridership data, service performance, accessibility and safety needs, and community feedback to improve service while maintaining safe and convenient access.
Pilot Project Overview
Thunder Bay Transit conducted a six-week Bus Stop Balancing Pilot Project from November 14 – December 14, on select routes to test how adjusting closely spaced bus stops could improve travel time, reliability, and efficiency while still maintaining convenient and safe access for customers.
Pilot Project Conclusion and Outcomes
The Bus Stop Balancing Pilot Project will end on Sunday, December 14, with most stop changes becoming permanent on Monday, December 15. Decisions were based on public feedback, operator input, ridership data, travel time, and accessibility and safety considerations, helping ensure the final changes improve efficiency while maintaining convenient and safe access for customers.
Thank You for Your Feedback
Community input was an important part of this project. Thunder Bay Transit sincerely thanks everyone who took the time to share feedback, complete the survey, or contact Transit during the pilot. Public feedback was carefully considered and played a key role in shaping the final outcomes of the project.
Permanent Bus Stop Changes
Route 10 – Northwood
The following stop changes will remain in effect permanently:
| Stop Location | Action |
|---|
1251 Victoria & Selkirk | Removed |
1257 Victoria & Oakwood | Removed |
1280 Edward & Miles | Removed |
1645 Churchill & Parkway | Removed |
1649 Redwood & Cambrian | Removed |
1652 Redwood & Limbrick | Removed |
1656 Redwood & Spruce | Removed |
1240 Edward & Park Row | Removed |
1243 Victoria & Oakwood | Removed |
1577 Donald & Archibald | Reinstated |
Route 14 – Arthur
The following stop changes will remain in effect permanently:
| Stop Location | Action |
|---|
1495 Arthur & Franklin | Removed |
1499 Arthur & Lillie | Removed |
1502 Arthur & Edward | Removed |
1508 Arthur & Leland | Relocated (before Heath St) |
1509 Arthur & Madison | Removed |
1510 Arthur & James | Removed |
1512 Arthur & Mountdale | Relocated (across Mountdale Ave) |
1513 Arthur & Riverview | Removed |
1519 Arthur & Sifton | Relocated (before Chilton Ave) |
1520 Arthur & Willard | Removed |
1524 Arthur & Highway 61 | Removed |
1529 Arthur & Leland | Removed |
1538 Arthur & Marks | Removed |
1870 Hawker & Arthur | New Stop Added |
Infrastructure Updates
Permanent removal, relocation, and addition of bus stop infrastructure will begin in the New Year. Until that work is completed, removed stops will remain bagged and temporary bus stop signage will be used where required.
Why is Bus Stop Balancing Important?
In many areas, bus stops in Thunder Bay are too close together. Bus stops should be spaced 250 to 500 metres apart (a 3 – 6-minute walk). However, on some routes more than half of stops are closer together, with some appearing twice on the same block.
When stops are too close together:
- Buses spend more time slowing down, pulling into stops, waiting for traffic to pass, and pulling back out.
- This increases travel time for everyone onboard.
By thoughtfully removing and consolidating stops, travel time is reduced and service becomes more reliable.
