St. Catharines city council asking region not to consider fair increases or service reduction
A dilemma facing Niagara Regional transit after it was asked by the region to consider raising fairs or reduce service.
St. Catharines city councillor Caleb Ratzlaff is on the transit board, and says he understands what the region is trying to do.
But, transit riders rely on the service. "I'm happy I'm not a regional councillor this year, because they're under significant budgetary pressures... and trying to lower your regional tax bill by cutting service and raising fairs is really unfair."
He adds it's been roughly a year since transit was handed to the region, with an agreement fairs and service would not be touched within three years.
"So, over COVID, one of the ways that St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls kept taxes low was not to purchase any new buses. You need to be purchasing buses every year so that you don't end up with a fleet that's all the same age, and don't need to be replaced all at the same time."
He adds there are transit terminal upgrades needed, but they also must consider how transit changes will impact bus users.
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