It boggled my mind that GO hadn't used the Mississauga Transitway between Square One and the 427, it was a Metrolinx project for crying out loud. I had urged GO to use it for a 21 bus branch direct from Union, but still seems they're resistant to it.
Digging deeper, I now see that the
29 (Guelph/Mississauga) uses the transitway, providing a one-seat ride from Kipling to Guelph. That's huge! Back when I was in university, I'd miss the transfer between the 21 and the 29 half the time, adding an hour to my trip each time. Now that's still requiring TTC to Kipling with no co-fare, instead of a direct ride form Union. But we know the construction downtown is a factor. It's a step in the right direction though, and big for anyone who needs to go between west-central / south Etobicoke and Guelph. However, they did not give the same treatment to the
25 (Waterloo/Mississauga).
Pre-downtown construction, a direct bus between Union and Renforth would be 15 minutes on a good evening, 45 minutes during rush hour. The 29 schedule suggests another 15 minutes between Renforth and Square One. Relying on the TTC to/from Kipling is about 35 minutes, and assuming 5 minutes of waiting, the 29 schedule suggests 10-12 minutes. That compares with the 21 that would go along the Gardiner, stop at Cooksville, and take the long loop around Square One before getting to the main terminal. In summary, by my (old) previous experience / calculations:
- 30-60 minutes: GO Bus express Union to Renforth, via Transitway to Square One
- 65-67 minutes: TTC Union to Kipling, GO Bus via 427 and Transitway to Square One
- 45-90 minutes: GO Bus 21P Union via Gardiner and Hurontario, looping at Cooksville and Square One
Not really applicable now with Hazel Line and Ontario Line construction. But all that just to say I think there was an easy time saver in routing the 21 along the Transitway, the transit corridor Metrolinx built themselves.