Debate over free transit for goes off the rails at council

Tempers flare, insults fly as Merulla urges councillors to to abandon a ‘1950s mentality’

A pitch to study discounted or even free city bus rides was put off Wednesday amid a new wave of acrimonious council disagreement over which taxpayers should pay for transit.

Coun. Sam Merulla brought forward a motion at council that asked for a report on possible HSR ride payment options ranging from geared-to-income fares to completely-free rides.

Controversially, he also asked for an evaluation of system costs if the city ended area rating of transit. That would potentially mean sharing the cost of funding the HSR equally among taxpayers, regardless of location or level of service.

The latter request set off a vehement debate that in a few cases spiralled into accusations and perceived insults among councillors.

Merulla urged fellow councillors to help the city create a “world class” transit system that convinces residents to abandon a “1950s mentality” that buses are only for students and the poor.

He suggested the study would offer up a range of possible improvements ranging from the “incremental to the radical.”

But all councillors outside the old city of Hamilton spoke up to oppose the idea of studying an end to area rating of transit, with several noting council had previously agreed not to revisit the always-contentious topic this term.

“That deeply worries me,” said Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, who added he offered support to the city’s light rail plan in part because of the commitment not to resurrect the area rating debate.

He also questioned why the city would add to the workload of transit staff struggling to deal with record absenteeism and a no-show bus crisis that saw the HSR cancel around 600 buses in October alone.

Dundas Coun. Arlene Vanderbeek agreed. She called the wideranging study “frivolous” given the challenges facing the transit system.

“Let’s focus on the problems at hand,” she said.

Tempers often frayed around the council horseshoe when the issue of area rating arose, with both Ferguson and Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green questioning the integrity of councillors on different sides of the debate.

Merulla also earned groans and calls for an apology after taking a perceived shot at Flamborough Coun. Rob Pasuta’s long absence from council due to illness.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger eventually moved a successful motion to send the study request — minus any reference to area rating — back to an upcoming public works committee so HSR staff could weigh in on whether they could handle the associated workload.