During recent budget deliberations, Mayor Don McIsaac proposed reducing transit service during off-peak hours to save money. Specifically reducing half-hour to hourly service all day on weekends, and on weekdays from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. & 7:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. The move was narrowly defeated in a 5-4 vote.
Mayor McIsaac has put a “Mayor’s Report” on Monday’s council agenda, for another vote. (Read the report here, starting on page 51).
We strongly oppose reducing transit service in Orillia. While saving taxpayer dollars is a noble goal, it should not come on the backs of the community that relies on Orillia Transit.
Transit cuts disproportionately hurt people hardest hit by inflation: low income, newcomers, seniors, youth, students, and workers. A $5.80 round trip is already too expensive for many already excluded from our public transit which operates mostly under-capacity. Affordable & accessible transit is no joke.
Further, improving public transit is essential to meeting our emissions reduction targets in our Climate Action Plan and creating a healthy, livable and affordable city.
Orillia Transit has seen investment and improvements in recent years resulting in increases in ridership. The more we improve transit, more will ride, inspiring further improvements. Consistent, frequent, reliable, affordable, safe service will build its reputation as a viable alternative to more costly and less sustainable modes of transit. Cuts to Orillia Transit without consultation sends the message to riders that the City is not on their side and transit is not a priority.
Fact Checking the Mayor’s Report:
- “The Transit Committee will have provided their comments and input on the proposed changes.” (p. 52). False: neither the transit committee nor the riders were consulted
- “There is no direct economic development impact” (p. 52). False: The report cited as background says “The transit system plays a valuable role in supporting economic development by providing safe and affordable transportation to areas of employment, commerce, and recreation.”
- “The recommendation included in this report is not specifically related to formal plans, the City of Orillia Policy Manual and/or guiding legislation.” (p. 53). False: It is integrally related to the 10-year Transit Capital Investment schedule which calls for regular investments into the transit system, as well as: the 2019 Multimodal Transportation Master Plan, the Active Transportation Plan, and the Climate Action Plan.
The Mayor’s Report also repeatedly calls Orillia Transit ‘a luxury’ that we can’t afford.
Cuts to transit services was not a campaign pledge during the Mayor’s campaign, or any publicly visible councilor’s campaign, or recommended in any previous staff or transit report. In fact, 7/9 members of Council completed our Green Orillia Municipal Election questionnaire, speaking favourably about public transit in their Question 12 answers, including Mayor McIsaac (view their responses here).
Ideas to improve Orillia Transit:
- Partner with agencies for a free bus pass for low income folks. All people under 18 ride for free.
- Pilot on-demand system to supplement existing routes and services, especially during off-peak and extended hours.
- Ensure transit changes are informed by riders. Incentivize regular feedback. A transit riders group to work alongside the transit advisory committee.
- INVEST in public transit to extend routes and services.
CALL TO ACTION
Public Transit is a Public Good.
Email your Mayor and Councilors to let them know that you want to see investments to Orillia Transit not cuts. CC clerk@orillia.ca to add your voice to the motion.
Orillia City Council emails (copy and paste):
clerks@orillia.ca
dmcisaac@orillia.ca
dcampbell@orillia.ca
wsmith@orillia.ca
rcipolla@orillia.ca
lleatherdale@orillia.ca
jczetwerzuk@orillia.ca
jfallis@orillia.ca
jdurnford@orillia.ca
tlauer@orillia.ca
I strongly believe in public transportation. Sometimes a community must cater to their constituents that choose public transit over owning a car whether affordable or not. Orillia has invested in so many projects that have cost the tax payers millions without a second thought. We need more incentives to use public transportation rather than using our cars. Hybrid buses are used in many communities. Uber and taxi costs are very expensive. I have traveled on our city buses often enough to see there is a need to provide them. Students, seniors, everyday working folk and non drivers need dependable transportation. Please reconsider your decision till you get more feedback from all your community. Thankyou.
What is there? 4 busses? Get rid of these gas guzzlers, get 8 electric smaller busses (half the size) and increase service and provide employment for 4 more buss drivers!
Cutting transit is the beginning of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Cuts mean less service. Less service means fewer people using it. Fewer people using it means more expensive/user. Therefore, cutting service rather than improving it only means costs go up. What is City Hall thinking?
Leave Transit service the way it is not everybody drives a car and there are people who work at night who depend on the bus so just leave it
I believe every modern city needs a bus service. However there are many ways that the service could be improved. Routes need to be under the microscope more. When riding the Laclie bus I’ve never seen anyone get on at the stops on Bay and Maple. Smaller buses could service the less used routes, while the West Ridge buses could increase and leave at times when students are needing transport from Lakehead and soon hydro workers from the new hub. Be flexible and please the constituent’s who voted you in.