COVID-19’S COST TO TRANSIT
Local agencies lost $165M in revenue
The steep decline in ridership since the outbreak of the coronavirus has plunged transit operators into a budgetary crisis, the region’s public transportation governing body says.
Bus, métro and commuter train ridership has declined by between 80 and 90 per cent since March, and fares represent roughly 30 per cent of the revenues taken in by transit operators, said Simon Charbonneau, a spokesperson for the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain.
The ARTM governs transit operators that include the Société de transport de Montréal, the Société de transport de Laval, Exo, and other regional transit agencies.
Charbonneau said with final results for May not fully tallied, the ARTM estimates transit agencies in the region lost $165 million over those three months. Aside from subsidies to purchase masks and augment hygiene measures, they have received very little additional government aid.
Charbonneau said the ARTM’S board has mandated its director general to negotiate with the provincial government in hopes of getting some funding to recoup the lost revenue.
The province said it is evaluating how it can help operators continue running during this difficult period, but would need the federal government to step up as well, said Sarah Bigras, a spokesperson for junior Transport Minister Chantal Rouleau.
“It’s a reality being faced by all major cities in Canada, and the federal government also has to live up to its responsibilities on this issue,” Bigras said.
In April, the Toronto Transit Commission temporarily laid off 1,200 employees. In Vancouver, 1,500 layoffs were announced to go along with steep service reductions, but the layoffs have been delayed, at least temporarily, amid some emergency funding.
Marvin Rotrand, a city councillor for Montreal’s Snowdon district, said the spectre of layoffs and service cuts are also a possibility here.
“Montreal is facing the same challenges as operators across Canada,” Rotrand said. “Without urgent federal contributions, transit doesn’t have a bright future in Canada. Only the federal government has the deep pockets to make up for the ridership loss while public confidence rebuilds.”
Rotrand prepared a resolution that was passed at the May city council meeting calling on the federal government to provide financial aid to the ARTM.
The resolution echoes calls from the Canadian Urban Transit Association, which has asked the federal government for an emergency injection of funds just to keep buses and trains running.
It is asking for $1.2 billion in bridge funding to allow transit systems to keep paying their bills, and an additional $400 million per month to make up for losses at the fare box.
Several other cities across Canada have passed similar resolutions.
“Public transit’s ability to deliver vital service is deteriorating fast,” CUTA CEO Marco D’angelo said in a statement. “To get essential workers to work and help people do things essential to day-to-day life, public transit needs federal support now.”