4. Business Items

4.1 Transit Windsor Advisory Committee 2019 Annual Report

Moved by Councillor Holt, seconded by B. Drouillard,
That the Transit Windsor Advisory Committee 2019 Annual Report BE ACCEPTED.
Carried.

4.2 Public Transit amidst COVIDD-19 – Transit Windsor Service

P. Delmore provides an overview of the Transit Windsor service amidst COVID-19 as follows:

• As per the Mayor’s order, Transit Windsor was shutdown for one month.

• Now operating on an enhanced Sunday service schedule with the front of the bus cordoned off for the driver and for people with mobility issues.

• The riders enter from the back of the bus and no fares are being charged at this time.

• The seats are limited to 10 per bus with 1 additional seat for those with mobility issues.

• There are additional buses on hand if a driver reaches the maximum level of seats available on the bus.

• There has been a 90% drop in public transit use over the past three weeks over the same period in 2019.

• Ridership across the country has been a challenge, as they cannot provide two metres of social distancing on the buses.

• The next step is to recognize the huge costs related to public transit and the need to get back to front door boarding in order to collect the fares.

  M. Winterton advises there have been challenges relating to ensuring the safety of the public and the workers. He acknowledges the fine work that P. Delmore along with his team have done during this difficult time.

  In response to a question asked by Councillor Bortolin regarding the next steps to reinstate bus service, P. Delmore responds that some municipalities are going back to front door and fare collection in June/July 2020 and will be installing Plexiglass. He adds that there are capital costs associated with the purchase of Plexiglass, which is difficult to acquire at this time. He notes that the City of Edmonton is considering the cancellation of public transit for the summer months due to the costs.

  Councillor Holt asks when the City made the decision to cancel the bus service how many other municipalities acquiesced. P. Delmore replies there were some