Windsor city council hot on the heels of public transit

Windsor municipal council must invest more in Transit Windsor rather than cut the public transit company’s budget, according to several residents who challenged their elected officials Monday evening during the municipal council meeting.

Funding for public transit dominated the public question period during this session devoted to the City’s operating and investment budget for 2025.

Several speakers criticized the proposed $1.4 million cut to Transit Windsor’s budget, for which Mayor Drew Dilkens offered little detail.

These cuts could result in job losses, a topic that will not be discussed publicly by the city council.

The fate of Canada’s only international public transit service, called the tunnel bus because it uses the tunnel between Windsor and Detroit, has also crystallized the concerns of some.

On Monday, Mayor Dilkens confirmed that the proposed cuts involve the potential elimination of interborder bus service between Windsor and Detroit, in addition to a reduction in service in the Windsor Transit network.

The amounts to operate the cross-border bus are enormousthe mayor said, citing the 10 days of mandatory sick leave for workers in federally regulated industries, which includes Transit Windsor due to international travel.

Crossing an international border is not an essential service. This is certainly not something we are obligated to providesupported the elected official.

Make public transportation a priority

Nate Hope of Activate Transit Windsor-Essex encouraged elected officials to reconsider cuts to Transit Windsor.

During the question period, he said he distributed leaflets at the weekend at different stops on the cross-border bus. He said some riders weren’t initially interested in the leaflet, but changed their minds when they learned of potential cuts to the service.

When they heard about the possibility of something happening to the service, they were really shockedrelated Nate Hope.

Working with Transit Riders United, a Detroit-based organization that advocates for public transit funding, he believes adjustments could be made to the bus route on both sides of the border.

For her part, Meg Gregoire, a law student at the University of Windsor, told elected officials that more investment was needed in Transit Windsor to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions.

This feels like a step back from the city council’s climate emergency declarationargued the student.

The message of these proposals is clear: public transportation is not a priority.

Raise taxes for better public transportation

Michelle Smith, a Windsor resident and owner of a downtown home, says she is willing to pay more taxes for better Transit Windsor service.

There are many things that define a great city, and a great public transportation system is one of themshe mentioned to the municipal council.

John Di Nino, president of the International Transportation Union of Canada, reiterated the union’s calls to increase spending on public transit. Buses are overcrowded, canceled or subject to extended wait timeshe reminded the council.

The trade unionist also described the cross-border bus service as key for the Windsor economy.

I urge you to view the Mayor’s proposed cuts to Transit Windsor for what they are: short-term actions that will degrade the quality of life for the citizens of Windsor.

What Windsor needs right now is increased investment to improve and expand transit services, not budget cuts.

Prioritize safety for cyclists

Cyclist Wayne Charbonneau shared with elected officials that every day, he breaks the law by riding his bike on the sidewalk.

He explained that it was the safest way for him to get around the city, in the absence of suitable cycle paths or safe routes.

The cyclist said he encountered a man on the sidewalk who asked him to use the road.

I’ll die on the way to work if I do thishe told the council. I get scared every time I hear a car coming behind me.

Wayne Charbonneau asked the municipal council to prioritize projects that facilitate walking and cycling to schools.

The city council will meet again on January 27 to discuss the budget and propose amendments.

Windsor residents were given 10 days to review the budget presented by Mayor Drew Dilkens.

This budget, if approved, will increase residents’ tax bills by 2.9%.