Council feeling transit concerns
City councillors didn’t send transit planners back to the drawing table, but did tell staff members to work hard to accommodate residents who will be adversely affected by a wholesale change to bus routes.
That came during a discussion added to Monday night’s meeting agenda, where council members said they’ve heard concerns of residents and want all options explored to reduce hardship to riders.
Administrators said they are trying to smooth the process, set to change on Sept. 5, and help people find the quickest routes when they call a helpline, but they can’t restore service levels and expect savings as well.
“There has been a lot of hard work and a lot of feedback,” said Coun. Julie Friesen. “Were asking staff to have a look at all options ... We need to make sure it meets the needs of people who are the reason we have a transit system in the first place.”
Pressed for possible options for low-volume routes, Friesen said she didn’t want to influence staff’s work, but taxi chits could be a possibility.
“In my view, we’re going to have to consider a few options.”
Mayor Ted Clugston said vouchers or dial-a-ride transit service were options he might support.
“Council has asked (staff) to really listen to input,” he said.
The city unveiled the new routes Aug. 10, showing two main core routes to high-volume destinations with regular seven-day and evening service. Three feeder routes however, wouldn’t operate after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays or at all on weekends. Councillors feared that put people who have to make connections in a lurch, especially those who rely on the service to get to work, or can’t afford their own vehicles.
The review, done with an eye to cost-cutting, was OK’d last December during a larger budget review. Since then, councillors had said the changes are operational, and therefore not a matter for council to debate.
CAO Merete Heggelund told council the goal of the review was to find $750,000 in savings.
The current plan would save about $650,000, but adding weekend and night service to non-core routes would erase $500,000 of that.
“Yes, there are improvements, but the driver here was to save money and stop running empty buses,” she said.
Between open houses and interactions of a special phone line, about 80 per cent of responses wind up positive after some discussion, she stated.
The service, which only recovers about 20 per cent of its costs, ranked low on a public survey that aimed to focus budget cuts.
Coun. Les Pearson said on Monday that “transit is one of the best services we provide for lower income people.”
Others said some consideration is required.
“We can’t address every concern but we do want to do what’s best for the community,” said Coun. Celina Symmonds.
Coun. Bill Cocks said the issue is a tough one to resolve.
“I would hope for at least a partial solution, keeping in mind that we’re trying to save money,” he said.