While Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens highlights transit investments over the last year, some on council say it's not enough.
The 2022 proposed budget includes making the 518x route, which goes from Tecumseh Mall to Devonshire Mall to St. Clair College, permanent. Since the route was launched in September, there have been around 1,800 unique trips.
The budget also includes about $16.3 million to subsidize Transit Windsor operations, with ridership still down 50 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Transit Windsor has continued to grow and innovate to better serve our riders. With the investments made to transit, we will continue to improve service and amenities, and make the ridership experience even better for our valued customers,” said Transit Windsor Executive Director Tyson Cragg.
There is also $63 million in the 10-year capital budget to improve infrastructure and service. That includes 24 new buses currently on order and $760,000 to invest in new technology like Transit On Demand.
"To support the vision outlined in the Transit Windsor Master Plan, we are proposing to invest at least $63 million in public transit over the next 10 years, as we also embrace innovations such as Transit on Demand to meet the post-pandemic needs of Windsor residents,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Councillor Rino Bortolin, who sits on the Transit Windsor Advisory Committee, says the increases to the Transit Windsor budget are only tied to increased fuel costs and labour costs and not new services.
He would like to see the city invest in a new route, the 418X, which was established as the priority in the Transit Master Plan.
"People hit hardest by the pandemic use public transit. With gas prices rising and not looking back, insurance rates skyrocketing and auto purchases tougher [because] of the supply issues tied to the microchip shortage, now is absolutely the time to invest in transit.," said Rino Bortolin on Twitter.
It's estimated the route would cost about $1-million annually to operate.
The 2022 budget will be deliberated by Windsor City councillors on December 13, 2021.