Waterloo students successfully rallied to preserve the 15-minute evening service on the Ion light rail, effectively overturning proposed service changes for 2024. The Grand River Transit staff had initially recommended reducing evening service frequency to every 30 minutes to accommodate a slightly more frequent daytime schedule.
Rodney Chan, a third-year undergraduate student in the School of Planning, spearheaded the grassroots campaign after learning about the proposed changes in October. Concerned about the disproportionate impact on students, late-shift workers, and those relying on public transportation, Chan took to social media to raise awareness. He collaborated with Damian Mikhail, president of the UW NDP club, and Sam Goncalves-Horton, a representative for the Planning Students Association, to launch a comprehensive advocacy effort.
Chan expressed his initial shock, saying, “There is a lot of demand during off-peak hours. Students coming home late from class, workers who have late shifts, and those who rely solely on public and active transportation would be disproportionately affected by these changes.”
The student-led campaign gained momentum through various channels, including a petition with over 800 signatures, a letter campaign to councilors, and a delegation at the council’s budget meeting on November 29. Mikhail emphasized the collaborative effort, saying, “Our club helped organize with other clubs on campus, like the UW Young Liberals and UW Climate Justice Ecosystem, to spread the word and get more people acting, however big or small.”
The campaign also benefited from the support of Councillor Colleen James, who attended a pre-delegation meeting to assist with preparations. More than a dozen students attended the budget meeting to present their experiences and recommendations to the council. For many, it marked their first foray into advocacy.
“I wanted to say something; I wanted to make a change, but I had no clue how to go about it until I started getting involved and attended the pre-delegation meeting,” shared Goncalves-Horton. “I think a lot of students feel the same way or they’re worried about academics and falling behind, but I genuinely think that through stuff like this is where I have learned the most, and it’s just as important as course content.”
The resounding success came after unanimous approval by Waterloo Region council members, who supported the recommendation to maintain the 15-minute evening service on the Ion light rail. Motivated by their achievement, the student advocates are now inspired to revive the dormant Tri-Cities Transport Action Group (TriTAG) to address future transit, cycling, and pedestrian issues.
“This experience showed me the power of working together, and I’m excited for the UW NDP’s potential to organize students in the future around other transportation issues as well as critical topics like short-term rentals and parking minimums,” stated Mikhail.
The Planning Students Association is also increasing its involvement in local advocacy efforts, reflecting a growing momentum for positive change within the student community. Goncalves-Horton emphasized the impact of collective efforts, saying, “The second you put in that little bit of effort to show up, you meet people, and momentum builds around changing your community. It can be really fun.”
