Resident asks questions about Transit Windsor bus service in Amherstburg

After watching our Windsor Route 605 bus travel around town with virtually nobody on it, and then reading what our mayor and deputy mayor said in the River Town Times about our bus service, I thought I would share a different perspective.

The transit service was initially established as a pilot program in 2022. The duration was for two years, five days per week, three trips a day. Before the service started, and without any financial information provided, our council expanded the service to include Saturdays and Sundays (three trips per day). Also early in the program administration suggested we make the service full-time, as we would then be able to receive provincial gas tax funding. Council approved this and now we have a full-time transit service. By doing so, we’re able to receive gas tax funding. This funding can only be used to extend service hours, purchase transit vehicles, and add routes. It cannot be used for existing bus services. 

Our first payment was received in April 2024 and we received $113,680. Administration suggested we renew the contract with Windsor and “add a fourth trip each and every day.” This extended service would be 100% covered by gas tax revenue. In the first two years, we’ve paid Windsor approximately $560,000. Revenue received for this same time period is approximately $48,000. Not exactly sure how the mayor can say that we have funded our service through the gas tax when we are clearly subsidizing it through property taxes.

During this period we had approximately 26,000 riders. Only 9,600 rides “generated bus revenue” for the town through cash or passes purchased from Amherstburg. 

Our deputy mayor indicated 50% of the people taking the bus out-of-town are students. When I take a look at the people riding the bus they appear to be young. Are they students from Amherstburg?

Fun fact, did you know the University of Windsor and St. Clair College provide student bus passes? Starting in Sept. 2025, tuition is going up to cover an $800 student bus pass. You have the option to opt out and I wonder how many Amherstburg students will opt out and purchase their pass from Amherstburg or make alternative arrangements.

Over the next five years, residents in Amherstburg will pay over $1,280,000 to support it. If the ridership numbers stay where they are and we continue to receive provincial gas tax funding we will generate around $300,000 to be placed into our transit reserve.

I’ll let you decide if our bus service is successful or required.

—Rodger Hudson

Amherstburg

Resident asks questions about Transit Windsor bus service in Amherstburg