City budget keeps buses operating evenings

Yukon College students could have an easier time getting home from evening classes later this year if city council adopts the proposed 2013 operating budget.

Yukon College students could have an easier time getting home from evening classes later this year if city council adopts the proposed 2013 operating budget.

The $65-million spending plan proposes evening bus service through the week, effectively keeping buses on the streets until 10 p.m. Monday to Friday in addition to the day service on Saturday.

Currently, Friday is the only night of the week on which buses operate past 7 p.m.

The budget – which would see a 3.83-per-cent property tax hike – and proposed improvements to the bus service were presented at Monday evening’s council meeting.

The document also proposes hiring another building inspector and increasing volunteer firefighters’ pay.

As Mayor Dan Curtis noted in his 10-minute, six-page budget address last night, council has heard for the last six months (since when it was elected) of the need to expand transit services.

“This budget responds to these interests by offering evening hours so that our residents who work or attend class past 7 p.m. will have a safe and inexpensive mode of transportation to get them safely to and from work or class,” Curtis said.

“In addition, we intend to collaborate with Yukon College and our commercial partners to explore possibilities for employee and student bus passes.”

If the budget is approved, exactly what the expanded service would look like is not yet known.

However, $62,000 has been budgeted for 2013 for the new hours to begin in mid-August, in time for the new school year. It’s expected the city would spend $191,000 in the first full year on it.

The city is planning to spend a total of $1.1 million on transit this year.

At a media briefing Monday afternoon, Rob Fendrick, the city’s director of corporate services, said evening service is something the city has been working toward for a number of years.

A number of would-be riders have noted that while Yukon College students can get to evening classes with the current bus system, the 7 p.m. end time leaves them having to find other options to get home after their classes.

The changes may result in more bus drivers being hired.

As work is done over the next few months to come up with an evening schedule, Fendrick said, the city will be looking for “new synergies” with Yukon College and others to find a workable schedule.

Efforts will also be made to “create synergies” with big box stores which have employees working evening shifts.

Part of that effort could include devising a new bus pass system for students and workers.

Under such a plan, the cost of the bus pass may be shared among the employer, employee or student in the case of Yukon College and the city, or a combination of those.

As Fendrick stated, the city wants to encourage economic opportunities which also help workers get to and from work in a sustainable manner.

It’s hoped that with the new hours, “if we build it, they will come,” Fendrick said.

While the city acknowledged there’s a demand for Sunday service as well, Fendrick noted the demand for extended evening hours exceeds the demand for Sunday service.

While the city will see certain increases, the budget is also without its reduction in services in some areas, including raising the number of statutory holidays the Canada Games Centre is closed from two to six. The exact days will be determined later, officials said.

As Curtis noted in his budget speech: “This will reduce staff costs and is consistent with the hours of operation for recreation facilities in other jurisdictions.”

Other reductions will see certain positions not filled or employees transferred to jobs with a higher priority and snow removal for Whistle Bend reduced until the neighbourhood is more developed.

“Council and I want to mitigate any inconvenience these reductions may have on the citizens of Whitehorse,” Curtis said. “We also want to see service improvements for our residents by focusing on how we do things at the city.

“Council and I have, therefore, directed (Stan) Westby, our city manager, to commence a full review of all city services.

“Mr. Westby has been given a tall order – examine the services offered by the city to determine how we can save the city money and improve services to meet the needs of our citizens and the city. This is a council priority.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Curtis said he believes Whitehorse residents will be pleased with the budget when they see the proposed service improvements such as transit.

“This has been a real balance,” he said, noting the city has taken into account both expanding services while also keeping costs down.

A public input session will be held on March 11, with second and third readings coming forward on March 25.