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Transit Windsor tunnel bus saved, for now

Transit Windsor tunnel bus.
Transit Windsor tunnel bus.

City council has voted not to eliminate the Transit Windsor tunnel bus and special events bus, but the price to use it is going up.

The city's proposed 2025 budget called for the elimination of the Transit Windsor regular tunnel bus and special events bus that runs between Windsor and Detroit, a $1.4 million cost savings.

Council voted 7-4 Monday in favour of amending the proposed 2025 budget to maintain the tunnel bus and the special events bus but increase rates to $20 each way.

Currently, it's $10 for a one-way ticket and $20 for a round-trip ticket.

The motion was supported by councillors Angelo Marignani, Fabio Costante, Fred Francis, Gary Kaschak, Kieran McKenzie, and Renaldo Agostino.

Councillors Jo-Anne Gignac, Ed Sleiman, Mark McKenzie, and Mayor Dilkens voted against the motion.

In 2024, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 616, which represents almost 300 Transit Windsor employees, ratified a new collective agreement that includes 10 federally mandated paid sick days for all workers.

The issue has been one of the main reasons behind the push to eliminate the tunnel bus, as the costs associated with the sick days are directly related to the tunnel bus falling under federal jurisdiction.

ATU International Vice President Manny Sforza says the tunnel bus is a great service; it's historic.

"The citizens of Windsor, they win; this is a victory for them. This is a big victory. Again, it's likely going to come up in next year's budget. Again, hopefully we see a change, and we see an increase in Americans coming to Windsor to spend their money and using the tunnel bus," he says.

Sforza says there's always the threat of driving people away with higher fares.

"I think they're so focused on breaking even or making a profit. Look, we're forgetting one thing: this is public transit. Public transit is not there to make money; it's not supposed to turn a profit," he says.

While the council has voted to amend the 2025 budget and save the tunnel bus, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens indicated after Monday's meeting that he would consider vetoing the amendment.

Under Ontario's Strong Mayor powers, Dilkens now has 10 days to veto any council amendments.

If Dilkens takes that path, the council would then have 15 more days after that decision to overturn the veto, but that would require two-thirds of the council or eight votes going against the veto.

Local News

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