Whitehorse Daily Star

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Pictured Above: CHERI MALO

Buses will always need subsidies, council told

Transit use rose significantly between 2010 and 2014, but so too did costs, city council heard Monday evening.

By Stephanie Waddell on February 2, 2016

Transit use rose significantly between 2010 and 2014, but so too did costs, city council heard Monday evening.

Whitehorse Transit manager Cheri Malo brought forward a report on the busing system detailing information between 2010 and 2014.

As she noted, funding was approved for a review of the system. It examined how the bus service is doing and whether the city is receiving value for its investment into it.

A number of initiatives were taken over the five-year period.

They included expanding and revamping the routes and schedules, increasing marketing, introducing transit passes for such groups as Yukon College and high school students, and adding weekday evening service.

Along with those, though not outlined in the report, day passes were introduced last year which allow residents to unlimited bus use all day for a flat fee of $5.

During that time, the average use of transit grew by just nine per cent across the country.

Whitehorse Transit use soared a whopping 72 per cent.

As Malo reminded council, though: “In looking at that uncharacteristic growth, it is important to bear in mind that much of the increase in service took place in 2014, when transit service was expanded to better accommodate Yukon College students and transit’s support of the U-Pass system.”

She went on to summarize the report, noting that the investments made in the service have provided local households with the opportunity to cut down on vehicle use.

That saves families money which can make its way into other facets of the local economy.

“Although transit services cannot compete with private automobiles in terms of comfort and speed, the City of Whitehorse made transit a more viable choice of travel for residents, particularly for those that have no other choice as well as those wishing to reduce their reliance on a private vehicle,” Malo stated.

Based on 2015 numbers as of Oct. 31, it’s estimated ridership will grow by another 15 per cent from 2014, when 546,496 rides were sold on the buses to approximately 630,000.

“This represents a doubling of transit use since 2010,” Malo said.

The information shows that changes in the transit system have improved the quality of life for many city residents, she added, and that’s expected to continue.

As Coun. Dan Boyd pointed out though, the improvements have come with significant costs.

The system cost taxpayers more than $2.4 million to operate in 2014. That works out to a net cost per capita annually of $85.85 in 2014, compared to $51.62 in 2010.

“It costs money, lots of money,” Boyd said.

He also added though he wasn’t proposing any change to the system after Coun. Betty Irwin noted many transit users cannot afford increases in fees or other changes to the system.

Boyd said his comments were more of reminder that services like transit require tax revenue to operate.

Questioned by Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu, Malo said the system will always require subsidization from taxpayers in addition to the revenue coming from ticket and pass sales.

The report showed improvements in the system.

One speaker who addressed council last night, however, also suggested an additional bus stop be put in place at Mountainview Drive and Range Road for residents looking to get downtown.

The service that was there was taken away when changes were made to accommodate the Whistle Bend neighbourhood, the speaker pointed out.

Comments (26)

Up 3 Down 7

joe on Feb 8, 2016 at 9:21 am

waste of money.

Up 8 Down 2

anonymous on Feb 7, 2016 at 3:34 pm

Come for the news stay for the comments. June, I totally see where you are coming from. I follow your posts, you often say things I think or would like to say but I don't have the words. I totally understand your replies to You Have No Idea too. You totally take the high road, ignore his nastyness. I can't decide if you are trying to tell him to expand his horizons or if you're just having fun with him. I went to a couple of your links the UN is awsome.

This print is about busing. We need transit.

Up 19 Down 20

@ June Jackson on Feb 7, 2016 at 8:28 am

June, please keep doing what you do. I, for one, truly appreciate your balanced views and insightful questions. I always look forward to reading your reviews. I appreciate your focus on the issues; your lack of attacks on individuals; your knowledge and experience. I appreciate you asking the right questions to keep public officials on track and to get the rest of the public thinking. Yours is the voice that most closely represents what I think of all the regular posters on this site and I believe you are nothing but respectful in your comments and commentaries. Please keep doing what you do...I don't care if it's from your desk or if you're sitting in your jammies. You speak well FOR THE PEOPLE and I very much appreciate your views. Thank you.

Up 23 Down 2

June Jackson on Feb 6, 2016 at 10:50 am

To: You have no idea: thank you for asking about other forums, I've posted a few of the links that i follow. During my coffee breaks, lunch hour, and when my second job has no clients, I do indeed participate in other forums around the world and others in Canada. The White-horse forums are pretty tame except for petitions and I have one there myself. I am interested in Atomic Energy and a few other forums at the UN, as well as trying to keep up with Pope Francis. (who rides a bus when he can, always before he became Pope.)

I do not understand why you feel compelled to comment so personally about some stranger on a local forum? I do not care what you do for a living, or when you post, or if you are happy or not or what you do in your retirement. However, when the Whitehorse Star posts an article about "What is "You Have No Idea" doing today" I will make some comments, appropriate to the story of course.

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=383194
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/atomicenergy/index.shtml
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/white-house-tn
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/
http://www.topix.com/forum/world/australia

Up 4 Down 50

You have no idea on Feb 5, 2016 at 4:13 pm

@ June Jackson
What job could you possibly have? Opinion Professional??
You seem to have the luxury of commenting (often ill informed) within minutes of a story being posted on this or a multitude of other social media/news sites. Perhaps if you were more focused in your under 65 years and not constantly complaining about everything you'd be enjoying a more fruitful retirement.

I can assure you there are lots of full buses in town.

Up 37 Down 3

adam smith on Feb 5, 2016 at 2:11 pm

Yellowknife's transit is provided by a private company under contract. I am always surprised that our city seems to ignore that they may not be the best provider of services.

Up 32 Down 1

Know The Business on Feb 4, 2016 at 5:31 pm

We have here dumb and dumber working against each other, dumb is spending $6000.00 a program that will reduce ridership. Dumber is comparing ridership with services in other urban centers. Comparing 6% increase in ridership in other urban centers against 73% in Whitehorse and being happy about it, is sick. A 66% increase in taxpayer subsidy is not good management, someone should be fired. It is a clear indication of the incompetence of two departments. Turn this service over to the private sector either to provide or manage the service it will be more efficient and more cost effective. In public transit none show a profit and subsidy is always required. Compare revenue against cost and cost per rider that is how you measure efficiency. Set reasonable goals. Strange that only Boyd expressed fiscal concern

Up 32 Down 0

north_of_60 on Feb 4, 2016 at 4:53 pm

@Mandeep & @Mark are correct. We need public transit and it could be run much more efficiently.
There's a segment of the Whitehorse population that needs a transit service because they can't afford a vehicle or cab fare.

Having the City run it may be the biggest mistake. The CoW's bureaucratic overhead would make any venture quite cumbersome and uneconomical. I suspect that most of the problems come down to the congenital mismanagement in the self-serving government bureaucracy. Delivery of actual service is secondary to the bureaucratic goals.

It's quite likely that our tax dollars could be spent more wisely by contracting the private sector to operate smaller buses running efficient routes, more frequently.

Up 73 Down 44

ProScience Greenie on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:04 pm

Great smack down J.J. although a bit too gentle but I doubt excessive harshness is in your nature. Agree or disagree you are always thoughtful, kind and honorable. Your university education is far less outdated than you think.

Up 73 Down 48

June Jackson on Feb 4, 2016 at 8:39 am

To: You have no idea: I am 75 years old, and I work 2 jobs, the cost of living, primarily my rent, escalated out of my ability to pay it on my pensions, work keeps a roof over my head and pays for the new more effective drugs that the Yukon Government won't pay for for seniors.

I am out of my bed at 5:30 am every single day of the week. I have 5 adult children. I have a University education (sadly outdated now as I graduated in 1965). I have never been on welfare, or EI or received any other social hand outs.

I am often curious about other posters, some I know in person.

I try very hard not to make personal comments about other people, like, "if you can get out of bed that early" what would you be implying? I try very hard not to speak for anyone else by saying.. I think everyone would... or, I am sure the whole community..

I have never been up at Copper Ridge at 7:30 am, I am at my desk at 7: am. In my original post I did NOT say there are no full buses.. I said.. I have never seen one.

Up 20 Down 33

Mark on Feb 4, 2016 at 6:52 am

There is not a bus system on earth that can support itself through ridership. It is a cost that must be supported by the city itself. To think that it can be profitable is insane. However it is a service that must be offered.To say that only riders should pay is like saying,"why should I pay school taxes if I don't have kids?" The city needs to realize that it is not a business but a duty required. Maybe if the city stopped pandering to special interest groups and put that money into services that everyone can use. The ski clubs alone cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The governments need to get their minds together in order to serve the taxpayers not as a business but rather, a duty.

Up 44 Down 4

William S. on Feb 3, 2016 at 10:16 pm

Hey Transit Manager these numbers are incredible too. Feb03/02/2016 @2pm Bus crossing Alaska Hiway heading downtown, empty. 714PM Bus parked beside Tim Horton's with driver in the seat, empty. 715pm bus crossing 2nd and main heading north 1 person. 840pm two buses heading south just crossed 2nd and main together heading south, 1 had 3 person the other had none. So that's 5 buses and 4 people. It would be cheaper to pay out cab fares for these people. These are incredible numbers and are a random sampling of me driving through town twice not for this purpose. I guess the transit manager feels we have not had enough snow here as yet.

Up 6 Down 39

You have no idea on Feb 3, 2016 at 3:05 pm

@ June Jackson

Sounds like you've never actually been on a bus. Get your butt up to Copper Ridge and ride that bus downtown at 7:30 am. Assuming you can get out of bed before noon.

Up 34 Down 1

Mandeep - facts anyone on Feb 3, 2016 at 1:32 pm

Well one fact that has already been mentioned is that this all still comes out of taxes. So whether it be YG or COW the point is moot. The fact is the end user of the service isn't paying.

To better the bus system there have been numerous suggestions forwarded.
- review the current transit routes. Anywhere where you have an intersection of buses or buses on the same road that is a waste. Bus routes are only supposed to touch, never intersect. So in Whitehorse the Riverdale bus would just do Riverdale and then loop back into Riverdale at ... say YK gov building. There would be two buses doing the downtown loop (one left one right) which would collect the users from Hillcrest/Lobird/anyone else that comes down the South Access. (If there was a proper traffic circle you could easily have a bus swing through, drop off passenger then transfer them to a downtown bus which could link to WalMart and go to Porter Creek. Sure two transfers (bus riders should be passed like hot potato.) The two downtown buses would just loop downtown. So 20 minute intervals - 4th to 2nd ... you could go up to Industrial road then back down the Two Mile hill to 4th. The problem is the larger you make the loops the slower the system goes.

another point would be at Takhini area and at WalMart - ...
you run the large buses downtown and you run smaller buses into those areas. It is a more efficient way to run the bus system.

I gathered this information by talking to drivers + a previous city worker.

Up 7 Down 29

Facts, anyone? on Feb 3, 2016 at 12:20 pm

The facts do not support an argument for smaller buses. What would you propose transit do during peak times? Run two buses, with two drivers, and additional garage/maintenance costs for those extra buses? Do you have any facts to suggest that the fuel savings would come anywhere near covering those extra costs, not to mention the capital expense of those small buses? And just a reminder - the city does not give student passes for free, the project is a partnership with Gov Yukon. Education purchases the passes at a discount. Not the same as "free".

Up 42 Down 1

and counting... on Feb 3, 2016 at 11:56 am

Do you know how they count the ridership?
The driver has pen and paper and a clicker!
If one person goes from Riverdale to the CGC (for example), it is counted twice (going to downtown and then to the CGC).
But it is still one person. Watch it and / or talk to a driver!

Up 45 Down 2

Smurf on Feb 3, 2016 at 11:48 am

"He also added though he wasn’t proposing any change to the system after Coun. Betty Irwin noted many transit users cannot afford increases in fees or other changes to the system."

So, still no fare increases (last one was 2008) or changes (getting smaller buses / schedule review) to run more efficiently?
Instead another property tax increase and of course the recycling fee to subsidize the system (which is already ridiculously subsidized through the tax payer / YTG)!

2.4 million (so far - costs like rising wages and new buses not included) for a city of approx. 26000 people???
The biggest money pit I've ever seen! How can they even justify something like that...

Up 47 Down 3

underinformed... on Feb 3, 2016 at 11:48 am

So does this mean taxpayers are getting charged twice to get kids to school? City buses by the city and then the contract to standard? Why are we paying twice?

Up 36 Down 4

mandeep on Feb 3, 2016 at 11:41 am

http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/bus.html

So the numbers increased for ridership but how about revenue?

http://whitehorsestar.com/News/transit-passes-extended-to-all-high-school-students

The city is giving a free service and is happy to see more people using it. Now add a cost. The city is quoted above as saying they don't want to raise rates... well I'm not sure 0 counts as a rate.

Up 34 Down 9

The buses the City use are nothing but environmental on Feb 3, 2016 at 11:18 am

night mares for our Yukon climate.

Up 46 Down 2

citeworker on Feb 2, 2016 at 10:37 pm

"What the city failed to report is how many of the new riders are highschoolers who receive free bus passes."

Please share the revenue increase that has occurred from the increase in rider ship. "The city of whitehorse has began handing out free bottles of beer and is reporting that spending on beer in whitehorse has decreased!"

Up 16 Down 45

jc on Feb 2, 2016 at 9:47 pm

Whitehorse Transit is doing as good a job as can be expected. We are lucky to have it. Since they changed the schedules a few years ago, it's even better.

Up 45 Down 2

Art on Feb 2, 2016 at 8:27 pm

I don't know who did this sweetheart report but if ridership has doubled since 2010 then my cost to subsidize should go down not increase by 30%.

Up 42 Down 7

June Jackson on Feb 2, 2016 at 3:38 pm

I am not challenging the reports.. but 546,496 rides in what? A year and a few months? I have never seen a full bus. Never seen a half full bus either. We need public transit.. so, I'm just sayin'

Up 41 Down 12

hanson on Feb 2, 2016 at 2:56 pm

Never understood why this system couldn't run as a business. Fares should reflect the cost of the service. Pretty simple. Any shortfalls could be recouped by a residential renters surcharge. Get the money from those that use the service. Those of us with vehicles and property already pay enough thanks.

Up 23 Down 22

Resident on Feb 2, 2016 at 2:52 pm

Now they just need to start the buses at 6 instead of 7 so I can avoid the crush of high schoolers. If I get hit in the head with a backpack one more time...

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