Expect to see the Transit Windsor buses come through Amherstburg for several more years.
Town council has renewed the agreement with Transit Windsor for another five years with a fourth run between Amherstburg and Windsor added to the schedule. There are currently three routes – morning, mid-day and evening – that come through town but an additional late afternoon route is now being added to the schedule.
Ridership statistics show 2,653 users from Sept.-Dec. 2022, the year service began, 13,599 total passengers in 2023 and 6,416 total passengers through the end of May 2024.
The town received a gas tax allotment of approximately $193,000 in 2024, with that being a funding that helps offset transit costs. Previously, the town received $113,000 in prorated costs because the service started partway through their fiscal year. In 2023, revenue created through ridership combined with the gas tax, the town received about $220,000 with operating costs being about $280,000.
Administration expects the gas tax allotment to increase as well as fare increases due to expanded ridership, including with the fourth trip.
Councillor Linden Crain asked for a ballpark figure on what it would cost for the town to run its own service, believing the roughly $60,000 the town pays now is “quite low.” The estimate would be “in the millions” due to infrastructure including a bus depot, Crain was told.
Councillor Diane Pouget was concerned about the town being locked in to a five-year term, and wanted to know if there was “an escape clause” should ridership numbers dip. She was told agreements do have mechanisms to make changes should there be a need.
Councillor Peter Courtney supported the extension, but addressed concerns and rumours he has heard with regards to increased crime.
Courtney said “I haven’t seen anything stand out” and asked Staff Sgt. Brian Caffarena from the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment “to ease the minds” with regards to that. Caffarena said he didn’t have statistics specific to whether the bus causes any sort of impact on crime.
Courtney also addressed rumours of “tent cities” or increases in the homeless population in Amherstburg with Caffarena stating it’s “pretty well status quo” with regards to that.
Stating “it sounds like we’re covering our bases,” Courtney added it’s a resource to the community. He said he was “kind of sketchy” about going to four runs.
“I wish we could manipulate the three runs but if we’re going to get our money back and potentially save some more potentially, I’ll support it,” he said.
Councillor Don McArthur wanted to ensure the fourth route “is hitting the sweet spot in terms of demand” with Transit Windsor suggesting adding the fourth route without overly adjusting the existing schedule that riders have gotten used to.
“I’m going to definitely support this. I’ll be quite honest – I never thought we’d see these kinds of ridership numbers,” said Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb. “I would be the first to have said this is never going to work. I’m glad I was wrong.”
Gibb noted over 50 per cent of riders are students. He added it is “a social justice issue” because there are those who can’t afford reliable, personal transportation.
“Not only do I think this is a good deal for the people of Amherstburg, it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
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