CREDIT: MAURICIO PRADO
Route 38 will depart from the Argyle Mall transit hub and travel down Hamilton Road and Old Victoria Road before making a loop through Innovation Park, located close to Highway 401 and Veterans Memorial Parkway.

On June 26, City Hall and the London Transit Commission (LTC) will implement a new industrial service route to Innovation Park. Route 38 will depart from the Argyle Mall transit hub and travel down Hamilton Rd. and Old Victoria Rd. before making a loop through Innovation Park, located close to Highway 401 and Veterans Memorial Parkway. According to LTC, temporary stops will be in place until new permanent bus stop plates are available.

The announcement was made on June 21 by Mayor Josh Morgan, LTC vice-chair Stephanie Marentette and Ward 2 Councillor Shawn Lewis at Bosco and Roxy’s, a dog-treat maker set to begin production at its new $25-million plant on Discovery Drive next week.

“Having transit to connect potential employees with employers is a great opportunity for Londoners seeking jobs. It also provides more opportunities for employers to broaden their reach beyond people who can afford a single-family car,” Morgan said.


Morgan stated that council discussed the idea for some time. He added that it takes planning and due diligence to bring a “permanent, stable transit service” like this to fruition.

“Around 2,500 existing employees will have a new way to get to and from work,” Morgan said. “We have multiple industrial partners adding jobs daily, and every month it seems like we have a new announcement about an industrial expansion or a new industrial land purchase. That is an example of the job creation and job growth we are having in this area.”

Morgan said he has previously met with employers to discuss this route and how it will impact their businesses, jobs and the overall city economy.

“It is incredibly important for us to maintain that momentum of the economic growth we have as a city,” Morgan said. “When you talk to them about the barriers to attracting new employees, transit becomes one of them.”

Marentette also announced that on Sept. 5, the LTC would launch Route 36A, taking passengers from Fanshawe College to the airport and through the expanding industrial district near Huron St. and Robins Hill Rd.

“A lot of the people who want to have the option to work in these places live in our wards,” Morgan said. “Whether it is somebody fresh out of college or university or somebody who has been out of work for a little while, they will now have the opportunity to get on a bus and get to work without any problems.”

Morgan and Lewis stated that they want to let everybody know that these routes are starting and that there is an opportunity.

“We have told the employees that they are going to be able to catch a bus out to work and that they do not have to resign from their workplace because of transit difficulties,” Morgan said.