Our most recent FTW meeting was one of our biggest yet! We talked about several topics, but the most time-sensitive issue is the city budget. We confirmed on Thursday that there is no funding increase for service in this year’s municipal budget.
There is a small increase in funding for capital expenditures in this budget – namely for driver safety shields and additional bus shelters. There is, however, no additional funding for transit service in this budget and at yesterday’s Public Works Committee meeting on Thursday we confirmed the city plans on maintaining status quo service levels – ie no improvement to frequency, reliability or overcrowding.
The city’s climate change plan calls for increasing the number of trips by Winnipeggers by transit from 8% to 15% by 2030. To do that, ridership will need to increase by 5.88% per year by 2030. By refusing to increase funding for service, the city is choosing to ignore their own climate change report and climate change in general.
While the city claims that they are in a tough budget year, the reality is they have the power to make fiscal decisions. Additionally, public transit was reported as Winnipeggers’ top priority in the 2019 budget consultation. It is shocking that the city chooses to neglect service given the mandate given to them by their constituency and the necessity posed by climate change.
Improving service means buses are less overcrowded, arrive more frequently and are more reliable. Research on public transit has found that these features are most important to enticing riders to use the system. That means in order for the city to meet their own climate change goal, improving service necessary.
We have put together some charts and info to assist in understanding our current situation. FTW asks that our members and supporters sign up to speak at the Executive Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at City Hall. Climate change and the demands of Winnipeggers must not be ignored. If you have any questions about the budget process or about the information shared here, please send me an email to joseph.kornelsen@functionaltransit.com. I will be available all weekend any time and I am happy to explain anything from this budget in greater detail.
To register to speak at the March 13 Executive Policy Committee meeting, contact 311.