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Welland Council Asking Region to Postpone Vote on Consolidated Transit System

City staff asking for vote to be pushed to 2023.

Councillors in Welland are asking the Region to delay voting on a consolidated transit system. 

City staff say delaying the vote until 2023 would be a smart move. 

In the meantime, they're recommending the following actions:

  • Updated financial models reflecting Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Inter-Regional transit operating costs based upon council-approved 2022 budgets.
  • Updated five-year transit capital budgets for Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Inter-Regional transit, including costs and allocation percentages to lower-tier municipalities.
  • Updated capital assets schedules for Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Niagara Region summarizing assets including revenue, fleet, non-revenue vehicles, and facilities.

"The City of Welland is committed to fully supporting the enhancement of public transit services throughout the Niagara Region," said Steve Zorbas, CAO. "However, out of an abundance of caution for those who have been hit hard by the pandemic, staff believe there needs to be further work performed on the ridership modelling, commensurate service levels, and capital investments, which should be undertaken before a 2023 implementation date."

At the start of the consolidated transit discussion, Council created several guidelines to assist with their decision making.

These include the ease of implementation, operational viability, improved economic development and no negative impacts on the City's tax levy. 

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