Happy Holidays ... transit riders to save a quarter

Christmas may come early for some as Council debated a motion to reduce transit fares twenty-five cents. This decrease is set to go into effect on January first.

Councillor Mike Anthony says that this decrease will help low income families and also increase ridership.

“It shows people in the community that we feel their economic hard-times,” Anthony said.

It was in 2006 that the cost went up to $2.25, and Dave Mendecino says that since then ridership has decreased.

“The staff expects that ridership will go up and council agrees,” Medecino said.

Medecino added that city staff will be budgeting for the cut but he said that with the suspected increase in ridership will balance out.

“I see this as pro-active rather than re-active,” Anthony said.

There is still ironing out to do on the issue of bus passes and monthly fees but Anthony said that a similar cut is likely to be made.

Although the motion looks to fix a problem but Councillor Sarah Campbell said that this cut is only the “tip of the iceberg.” She added that the city needs to look at partnerships with the school board and other organizations much like the partnership between transit services and Canadore College and Nipissing University.