DTR AND PUBLIC TRANSIT

By Maurice Brenner Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering Pickering is preparing its 2024 budget under the Strong Mayor’s On January 2nd, users of Durham Region Transit (DRT) where impacted as a result of reductions in level of services including cancelations of routes and locations of bus stops. In todays column I want to focus on the negative impacts of these changes. How is DRT Funded? Public transit is not a profit-based public service, with 40% of the DRT 2023 budget funded by the regional taxpayer and the remaining through fare revenue which is tied to ridership. In 2023 while DRT experienced its best year of ridership, fare revenue will only cover approximately 26% of its operating expenses resulting in a significant shortfall. How are Customers being impacted? The service adjustments implemented this week was an attempt by DRT to better utilize its resources in an effort to keep up with increasing demands on the system. This resulted in a reduced level of access to transit for some residents because resources had to be reallocated to address the greatest demands and pressures on the network. These actions are not new at DRT and are never easy or popular. For many years DRT has been required to annually optimize the network in response to the realities of approved DRT budgets but this year with out adequate external funding by the Province, it cut back to bare bones. While I can appreciate the reasons why DRT made these recent cuts, unfortunately it has had a significant negative impact on those that depend most on Transit. By implementing a criteria of 800 m walking distance between stops may seen reasonable, it fails to take into consideration, the safety, and accessibility needs of DRT customers. It makes assumptions that those who depend on Transit are able to walk to the these new stops, and or alter their schedules such as students, over 55Plus and others who work shifts. Some of those impacted have mobility issues requiring them to use a walker or similar devices that does not quality for Specialized Services and the option of On Demand pick up would still require them to get to the nearest bus stop 800m away. Other changes removed routes which extended travelling time with-in Pickering. What was previously a 15 minute ride, has in some cases resulted in up to 45 minutes. Seniors who relied on Transit to get to medical appointments, shopping and social outings are no longer able to get there. What’s Needed As a Region and a City, we need to be transit friendly, creating a Transit system that does not leave anyone behind, while encouraging and attracting potential/future riders by offering an option to driving on our already congested road network. From an environmental lens, we want to reduce the Carbon foot print by increasing Transit Ridership, reducing dependency on vehicles. These changes have created a hardship on those who rely on this Public Service and needs to be reconsidered. With your continued support, I will do all that I can to make sure no one is left behind needing a transit bus..