Transit Commission

WHEREAS the 2023 Draft Operating and Capital Budget documents for the Transit Commission were circulated and published after being

WHEREAS transit service on Prince of Wales Drive south of Meadowlands Drive and north of Baseline/Heron Roads was removed by decision of Council in 2011 as part of a “route optimization” process of cost reduction, WHEREAS many residents of areas along and east and west of Prince of Wales Drive south of Meadowlands and north of Fisher are beyond a convenient walking distance of their nearest bus stops, WHEREAS, clients visiting the Debra Dynes Family House, many whose only means of transportation is via public transit, and the staff who work there, have passionately advocated for a return of this much needed Prince of Wales corridor service, WHEREAS, the Carleton Heights and Area Residents Association has consistently championed the need for a return of this much needed corridor service, WHEREAS, during the 2022 election campaign, the number one transit issue in the Carleton Heights – Courtland Park neighbourhood was a need to provide transit service along the Prince of Wales corridor, WHEREAS, the current situation is contributing to lower transit use among residents of these area THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed to assess the financial feasibility of restoring peak-period, peak-direction transit service to the section of Prince of Wales Drive between Meadowlands and Fisher, based on the current population, current and future rates of transit ridership, and funding available within the approved 2023 transit operating budget; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staf

WHEREAS, increasing revenues, other than from the transit levy or transit fares needs greater attention by the Transit Commission, WHEREAS, free transit, in addition as a temporary offer in response to compromised LRT service and the Winter 2022 occupation, have historically been linked to Canada Day and New Years’ Eve, WHEREAS, augmenting sponsorship opportunities to offer free transit on a particular day, that would cover all or partial costs for the day, will both increase ridership and generate much needed revenues, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, the General Manager prioritize ways to augment sponsorship opportunities with outside entities, enter in to an agreement if feasible and report back to the Transit Commission by October 2023 on what progress has been made, how other jurisdictions attract sponsorships to offer free transit and challenges encountered to attract new sponsorships.

WHEREAS OC Transpo transit fare is free for children aged 0-7 years old, WHEREAS, on November 17, 2021 Transit Commission approved a motion to amend the fare category for children from ages 0-5 which was free of charge and to expand the range to 0-7 years of age, WHEREAS OC Transpo transit fare (cash) for children aged 8-12 is $1.90, WHEREAS transit fare is free in the following Canadian jurisdictions, by specified children’s age group: Victoria, BC, transit fare is free for children aged 0-12, Vancouver, BC, transit fare is free for children aged 0-12, Edmonton, AB, transit fare is free for children aged 0-12, when accompanied by a fare-paying customer, Winnipeg, MB, transit fare is free for children aged 0-11, when accompanied by a fare-paying customer, Toronto, ON, transit fare is free for children aged 0-12, Montreal, QC, transit fare is free for up to five children aged 0-11, when accompanied by a fare paying customer aged 14 or older, Halifax, NS, transit fare is free for children aged 0-12, St John’s, NL, transit fare is free for children aged 0-11 WHEREAS transit fares paid by passengers aged eight to twelve years of age are estimated, on an annual basis, to generate $174,000 in fare revenue (based on 12 months, at 70% pre-COVID ridership), WHEREAS increasing the coverage of free fares for children will benefit families, particularly racialized families and those led by single parent households, WHEREAS, it is unlikely that children aged 0-11, will ride public transit

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Transit Commission recommend that Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, approve the Transit Commission 2023 Draft Operating and Capital Budget, as follows: Transit Services as follows: User fees as amended (pages 4-6); Operating Resource Requirement ( revised page 3); Transit Commission Capital Budget (pages 7-8, individual projects listed on pages 15-42). For (8) G. Gower, T. Tierney, J. Leiper, S. Menard, C. Curry, D. Hill, M. Carr, and W. Lo Against (1) R. Brockington