Stock photo of CK Transit bus going down Keil Drive. January 15, 2018. Photo by Greg Higgins)Stock photo of CK Transit bus going down Keil Drive. January 15, 2018. Photo by Greg Higgins)
Chatham

Permanent improvements may be coming to CK Transit

Chatham-Kent is set to receive nearly one million dollars to support its public transit system.

The province has announced $988,813 through its annual gas tax program to help the municipality operate and expand CK Transit. Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney said the province will provide the funding as soon as possible this year. CK Transit usually puts most of the money towards operations to offset the cost of the service and saves some funding for special projects, pilots, or capital purchases like buying new buses, adding new routes, and replacing old bus shelters. According to 2017 numbers, CK Transit earned $623,205 in fare revenue while the service costs just over $2.5 million to operate. Municipalities with public transit services receive two cents per litre of the provincial gas tax revenue collected.

Chatham-Kent councillors are being asked Monday night at their meeting to make three pilot projects permanent -- a temporary fifth bus route (Route 5) for the Chatham Conventional transit service, an additional weekday midday round trip (Midday Run) on all three inter-urban transit routes, and a temporary demand-responsive evening transit service (“CK Transit On Request) for those working at night. All will end in June if not approved to continue. A report going before council shows Route 5 eliminates overcapacity issues along Route 1 going towards St. Clair College and shortens the length of Routes 1, 3, and 4 to improve on-time performance. CK Transit staff are also looking to improve directness of travel, reduce average travel times between popular destinations, reduce walking distances, and improve Route 5 frequency to 45 minutes down from 60 minutes while other routes will remain at 30 minutes. Significant changes to the fixed route design will also be brought to council this year after some public consultation.

CK Transit said ridership increased 23 per cent from 2016 to 2019 and had been expected to grow up to 2 per cent in each of the next five years, although CK Transit services experienced a significant decline in ridership in March of 2020 that continues to remain approximately 60 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

On Monday night, CK Transit is also asking council for the final $600,959 from the Provincial Gas Tax Reserve to be used to complete the purchase of a new fleet of transit vehicles. If approved, the vehicles will be in use beginning July 1, 2021.

Read More Local Stories