A new survey shows that the vast majority of Windsor residents would like to see federal assistance for Transit Windsor.
The poll, conducted by Probe Research on behalf of Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, which represents Transit Windsor employees, showed that 82 per cent of respondents strongly support or somewhat support some form of federal funding for transit operations.
John Di Nino, president of ATU Canada, said the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown public transit into an unprecedented predicament, not just in Windsor, but across the country.
"We know that the pandemic has caused devastating declines in ridership and farebox revenue," said Di Nino in a media release. "We are asking the federal government to fund transit operations because municipalities are in financial chaos and the provinces are overwhelmed."
The poll also indicated that 91 per cent of Canadians agree that the federal government has a responsibility to provide access to safe, reliable, and affordable public transit. Di Nino pointed out that the government has pledged billions of dollars in various forms of relief for businesses, but not for public transit.
"Funding public transit is one of the most important ways that the federal government can take action to support the economy during this pandemic," said Di Nino. "It’s clear that the government has a responsibility to provide operational funding, and we are hopeful that the government will recognize the need for a bailout of this critical service that moves essential workers to important jobs that are keeping Canadians safe during this crisis."
Some municipalities have placed restrictions on ridership in an effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus, which has also had an effect on the transit system's books. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens used executive authority granted under the city's state of emergency to shut Transit Windsor buses down last month in the interest of public health.
According to the ATU, ridership on public transport is down 75 per cent, and the union has asked for a $5 billion bailout over one year's time.
From May 1 to May 6, Probe Research surveyed 1,500 Canadians living in cities and urban centres across the country. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.