Public transit to undergo internal review

City Council passed a motion on Monday night which directs staff to conduct an internal review of its transit services, with a heavy emphasis on public consultation. PHOTO BY LIAM BERTI

The city has to take a good, hard look at the way its public transit is operating.

At least that’s according to a motion carried at Monday night’s City Council meeting, which directs city staff to conduct an internal review with public consultation on the city transit services.

Councillor and Deputy Mayor Tanya Vrebosch, who made her passion for public transit well known multiple times throughout the evening, tabled the motion, which passed with a majority vote. 

“This was, to me, the right time to do it,” said Vrebosch. “I might not be here after October, and this is putting it on the table so that it is done.

“This is something that I’m very passionate about and, before I go, I’d like to see discussed at this table.”

The motion, and discussion that soon followed it being tabled, placed a heavy emphasis on public consultation being paramount in the new review. Coun. Vrebosch even referred to the potential of a roundtable discussion, similar to the cultural roundtable.

“I believe it’s time that there was some focus on transit and that it deserves special consideration outside of the budget process,” said Coun. George Maroosis. “Certainly it’s time we asked the users and gave them the opportunity to make some presentations.”

The motion passed on the same night that council heard a public presentation urging the city to reevaluate the way it operates certain aspects of the transit service, such as weekend scheduling, accommodating families without vehicles and considering those who would rely on public transportation past their existing operating hours.

“If we are doing an internal review, it would certainly make sense to actually have the people that use the service be part of the review,” said Coun. Mark King.

Councillors were also quick to point out that the review being moved forward calls for an internal review, rather than hiring a private consultancy.

“This is an internal review, I’m not asking for a consultant to come and do anything,” said Vrebosch. “It’s using our own resources and consulting with the community on transit to see if can we can make any improvements and asking the users themselves.”

As was said during the meeting, improving the service doesn’t necessarily mean increased costs are inevitable. Instead, as Coun. Maroosis alluded to, the review could perhaps be an exercise in optimizing the service while keeping the expenses the same.

Increasing ridership has been an ongoing issue for the City. According to Chair of the Community Services Committee, Coun. Dave Mendicino, the City is already in the process of reviewing transit for the 2015 budget. Transit falls under the direction of Community Services and Mendicino insists that there are already various means for the public to provide input to the transit department. 

“Increased ridership is an issue for us; we have flat lined,” said Mendicino. “Staff are looking, as we speak, for ways and suggestions that they can bring forward to the budget process that could potentially increase ridership.”

Coun. Daryl Vaillancourt was one of those opposed to the motion, airing concern for the fact that it lacked specific direction and, ultimately, tabled an amendment. Although the amendment was defeated, Vaillancourt and Mendicino were insistent on the redundancy of the motion, claiming that the review would be a waste of time for city staff who already have similar tasks on their plate.

“Basically, what is happening already is city staff, in preparation for the 2015 budget, are already doing an internal review on transit,” said Mendicino. “Quite frankly, the motion, while I agree with it, the work is already being done.”

Despite the pre-existing study though, multiple councillors were adamant on insisting that the proposed review wouldn’t be too onerous on city staff. Depending on the length of the review, the findings could be released before or after the next election. 

“I don’t believe that this is something that’s going to happen overnight," said Vrebosch. "But I think that this way it’s on the table and staff can now look at it.”