London transit and mobility master plan explained

London, Ontario is growing. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, the way people move through the city is changing. New developments, expanding campuses and shifting job centres are putting pressure on roads, transit and infrastructure. To respond, the City has developed a long-term strategy: the Mobility Master Plan.

Why London needs a mobility master plan

London is no longer a single-centre city.

“We have the downtown, but we have other centres outside the downtown. We have to rethink how we move around the city.”

As growth spreads across the city, transportation systems need to connect more destinations efficiently. The Mobility Master Plan brings together: roads,
London transit services, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian networks into one coordinated framework through 2050.

Making London transit competitive with driving

One of the biggest shifts in the plan is prioritizing transit.

“If you can make it equally efficient to travel by bus as by car, more people will take transit.”

To achieve this, the city is introducing: bus priority signals, dedicated bus lanes and faster, more direct routes. These changes aim to reduce travel time and improve reliability across London transit routes.

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The role of the London Transit Commission

Transit improvements are supported by the London Transit Commission, which operates the city’s bus network. Design features such as limited key stops, queue jump lanes and transit signal priority help buses move more efficiently through traffic. These improvements are critical as demand for London Ontario bus routes continues to grow.

Why campus-integrated transit matters

Location matters as much as speed.

“Fanshawe College has been forward-thinking by saying we want the buses to stop right on campus, so students can step off the bus and be within steps of their classroom.”

Integrating transit directly into destinations reduces walking time and improves the overall experience. This approach makes transit feel more convenient and accessible.

The challenge of changing behaviour

Encouraging people to shift from driving to transit takes time.

“It takes years to change. The challenges of moving by car have to be so great that it is as easy to get there by public transit. That is where priority measures and promotion come in.”

This creates a “chicken and egg” situation: people won’t switch without better service and investment is harder without ridership. The Mobility Master Plan addresses this by improving service first.

Climate change, equity and city growth

The plan is not only about transportation. It connects directly to climate change, equity and economic growth.
On climate: A full bus produces significantly fewer emissions than the equivalent number of cars.
On equity: “It is about equity, making it as easy for people with less money to travel as it is for people who can afford cars.”
On the economy: “A strong, functioning transportation system improves the economic viability of the city.”
These factors show that transit planning shapes how a city functions overall.

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How decisions are made

Planning at this scale relies on data.

“Staff use GIS to collect and analyze mode data. They prepare the information in mapping form, bring it to the public and to council, and then council can make those big decisions.”

GIS plays a major role in urban planning by helping municipalities visualize movement patterns, infrastructure demands and long-term growth.

This process turns data into: maps, public consultations and policy decisions. It allows residents to see how changes will affect their daily travel.

What success looks like

Success is not one project. It is the gradual improvement of travel time reliability and accessibility When transit becomes as easy and predictable as driving, more people choose it. That shift is what the Mobility Master Plan is designed to achieve.

What this means for London’s future

London’s growth is not slowing down. As the city expands, transportation systems must evolve with it. The Mobility Master Plan provides a roadmap for better London transit, reduced congestion, lower emissions and more equitable access. It is not just a transportation plan. It is a strategy for how the city will grow.