Consider making transit free to all, councillor says

Advertising and sponsorships could help defray costs: Paquette

More than 100 cities around the world have eliminated tickets and passes for public transit and Edmonton should look at free transit, as well, says Coun. Aaron Paquette.

He raised the issue Monday and tabled a motion for administration to examine the pros and cons of making transit free to ride for at least one year as a pilot project.

Council will vote Oct. 9 on whether to study the issue.

If people flock to the buses and trains, great.

“Imagine how many cars we’d get off the road,” Paquette said.

That would leave lanes clear for those who need to drive, a better solution than simply continuing to widen roads forever.

“Transit should be seen as an essential service . ... This is a basic necessity for a thriving economy,” said Paquette in an interview Monday, suggesting federal, provincial and regional partnerships, plus advertising and corporate sponsorship, could help cover the increased cost.

Even if property taxpayers had to take it all on, by his calculations, that would be an average of $160 a year.

Edmonton Transit’s 2018 budget anticipates $120 million in revenue from transit fares.

Total expenses are $355 million.

But a 2016 study of the transit subsidy found total annual benefits from transit system are much higher. It found $700 million annually in reduced congestion, reduced collisions, decreased parking requirements and environmental impacts.

Just think of security, said Paquette, saying bus drivers would no longer need to be the gatekeepers and fare collectors for the system. Paris is now looking at this, he said. At its basic, “increased mobility equals increased economic development, increased security and increased health.”

“That’s all I’m saying. Let’s consider this, see if the numbers add up,” he said.

When news of Paquette’s motion hit social media, reaction was mixed. Many were worried about the increase to property taxes and said it’s unfair for people who will never use transit to subsidize those who do. But others said taxpayers already pay the full cost to build roads — property owners pay for roads whether they walk two blocks to work or drive daily for two hours.

“I thought council said they were trying to reduce tax increases, not come up with new ways to increase taxes even more,” said Tyler Zutz, who jumped in on Facebook.

But this could reduce congestion; the price of the bus is a barrier today, said Chris Hubick, who supported the idea on Twitter.

It costs $12 for him and his partner to take the LRT from their downtown home to Southgate Centre to go shopping, where there’s free parking. So they always drive, he said. But that feeds the constant need to upgrade roads. “Bigger cities have learned this just doesn’t scale. Whatever you build, it will be full of cars.”

At city hall, many of Paquette’s colleagues were taken by surprise.

Over the last year, council made transit free for children as old as 12 accompanied by an adult. It also created a pilot project for a lowincome transit pass and signed a contract to create an electronic smart fare system with regional partners.

But free transit is not totally new. In 2015, it was the No. 1 transportation recommendation by the mayor’s task force on ending poverty.

“I would welcome a report,” said Coun. Scott McKeen, who pointed out transit use has been dropping during the economic downturn. It will be important to measure what financial upside this could have for the city, he said.

“I have to get my head around it,” said Coun. Bev Esslinger. “Can we as a city afford this? I don’t know.”

Price might not be what’s keeping most people off transit, she said, adding that she wants to see better service.

Edmonton had free transit in a limited way before. Between 1983 and 2004, riding the LRT during the day downtown was free. Council ended that service in 2004, believing it could gain $100,000 in revenue.