The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is composed of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. In 2000, the Region took over transit from Kitchener (which served Waterloo as well) and Cambridge. It was part of a plan to improve the transit network, and there has been steady, large growth in transit investment and ridership since then. Regional council has 11 members from the cities and four from the townships, plus the chair.
Transit is area-rated to the cities and not the townships, which has made transit clearly a city issue, and one on which township mayors defer to the cities.
First of all, you do away with the current setup how Peel Council works today. You divide the area by X position based on X size to the point Caledon would see less representation.
City of Mississauga has wanted to be out of the Peel Region for over a decade since they where paying most of the bills for everyone at the expensive of their own taxpayers. Today, Brampton has almost caught up to Mississauga on the funding issue which leaves Caledon not supporting their share of cost.
By having A Region Of Peel in control of everything, you deal with Transit a lot better as well the growth of the region. Caledon only talks LRT, yet refused to have buses service it At the same time, you cut 50% of duplication of service, as well personal to run things.
One cannot look at a transit map based on today info to say this is what is needed to do the job, but a 15-25-50 year vision as what can take place to drive the real technology to support the needs in those time frame.
Region of Peel is no different than York, Durham, Waterloo, Chatham-Kent, other than it doesn't have "ONE" transit system, but 2.
As for numbers on 502, you have to be careful. It does now include ridership that once was carry by 19 from Shoppers World which now stop at 407 and 502 now going to Sq One. What does this change do to 19 ridership numbers today? Also, since passes are not allow to be used on both systems as well Oakville for transferring, numbers have change. Come Jan 1st, 2016, that will change when Mississauga does away with all fare media other than the Presto and cash to use anyone service. Long over due. Up to a few years ago, you could travel from York Region to Hamilton on one fare and that is dead now on the 2 hour window and no exchanging transfers.
As noted, A Regional Transit System would include Peel and Halton as a sub section to the Real Regional Transit System covering 416/905/702 or from Windsor to Kingston known as The Southern Region System.
One other thing, the Chair of Peel is "NOT" elected which I say is wrong, but appointed. It cost Mississauga about $500,000 to elected a new councilor since that councilor decided to run for the chair position at the first Region meeting after October election.