My name is Pam McConnell, I am a member of Functional Transit Winnipeg. I am here today to speak about climate change and Transit’s role in climate change. Transit needs operational funding for the improvements that I will speak of. The funding increases required should not come from fares.
This past year I participated in the development of Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan proposalto reduce GHG emissions. Two items specifically pertain to Transit and will require funding from the City of Winnipeg. The funding should not be taken from Transit’s operational funding – it should not be taken from Transit fares.
According to (the city of Winnipeg’s) Climate Action Plan passed in 2018, we have to reduce our carbon emissions substantially and quickly. By 2030 we have to cut emissions by 1/3 and by 2050 we have to cut them by 80%. With every passing year the actions needed to address climate change become more difficult to implement and wider in their scale.
In order to meet the climate change objectives laid out in the city’s plan (your own plan), personal automobile trips have to be reduced to 50% of all trips by 2030 and transit trips have to rise from 8% to 15%. That means you have to increase ridership by 5.88% each year for the next ten years. If you aren’t increasing ridership this year, you will have to make it up by increasing ridership at an even faster rate beginning next year – 6.49% annually from 2020 to 2030. You actually have to increase the rides by 5.88%.
The City’s Climate Action Plan is NOT optional. The recommendations from Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan include two items that specifically pertain to Transit and will require city funding.
The first is the recommendation to re-introduce Electric buses in Winnipeg. I do note that thereare some funds budgeted for this proposal within Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan. The proposal is to add 20 electric buses and the installation of 8 depot chargers by 2020. It is estimated that the upfront costs can be partially offset over the 12 year electric vehicle’s lifespan due to lower operating costs, compared to a diesel bus.
In my opinion, the second Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan Action recommendation has the potential to create the greatest change. Simply stated we want to increase the use of public transit and active transportation networks and reduce dependence on personal vehicles. Fewer cars on the road and more people on the bus decreases GHG emissions. If we want to reduce GHG emissions (and we must), we need to switch to environmentally friendly fuel (away from fossil fuel) AND we need to drive less. We need to shift away from the daily use of the “single” occupant family car, SUV, van or truck to other transportation modes. This would also be a shift away from the ever-increasing size of pickup trucks on our roads.
This mode shift encourages the Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan’s concept of selecting the most environmentally friendly transportation option required to support the purpose of the planned travel, while taking into account the distance and other mitigating factors. Active transportation i.e. walking and biking on well-maintained sidewalks and bike paths would be supported and encouraged for shorter trips and commuting within the city. It is important to ensure that bike and pedestrian walking paths are recognized as transportation routes and accordingly are cleared and maintained and are included in the City’s annual budget.
Utilizing Transit would be promoted to potential new riders. frequent transit riders have told us that increasing the number and frequency of buses (including the number of electric buses), especially during peak hours, will result in an increase in transit ridership. To accomplish this – increasing operating funding for Transit is essential. Increases to transit funding shouldn’t be taken from fares alone.
The concept of modal shift from everyday personal vehicle usage to the selection of the most appropriate transportation option to meet the needs of the trip; holds the greatest promise of significant GHG emissions reductions. When driving is necessary, ridesharing would be encouraged whenever possible.
Transit also needs to keep existing riders happy with Transit services. This will necessitatedependable, reliable services that prioritize increased frequency of services. Increasing the frequency of transit is most important to riders. The proposed low income bus pass will assist in providing needed supports and opportunities for Winnipeg’s vulnerable populations. FTW welcomes this initiative. I also hope that the City will continue to ensure that the needs of older adults and disabled who must use the Handi-Transit services are being met.
I do want to commend the City for funding and proceeding with offering more heated bus shelters and improved accessibility measures at bus stops. However, we need more City funding to make real progress on improving service and decreasing GHG emissions.
Regardless of City or Provincial budgets: the City’s and Province’s GHG targets MUST be met. Our children and grandchildren’s future depends on it. It’s essential!