A permanent transit committee for Whitehorse is needed to provide a long-term vision and help avoid problems in service delivery, city council heard Monday night.

Roberta Morgan told council a permanent committee could serve as a conduit between city hall and the community. It could gather input on specific needs and help alleviate problems that do arise, she said.

City council, Morgan said, is elected to represent all residents. It must not forget those with disabilities who are left isolated in their own homes, she added.

'Their needs have to be taken into consideration when the city is doing its planning work,' Morgan said.

She suggested there is a need to boost service to facilities like Whitehorse General Hospital, Copper Ridge and the new aquatic centre.

Council also heard suggestions about shortening the distances between stops to make bus access easier for those with mobility problems.

It was also suggested Monday by Sharone Maldaver that city council explore alternate funding to boost transit service, in partnership with some sort of body like the recently-appointed transit improvement committee.

'There is a lot of new federal money to help reduce the impact of climate change,' she said.

Maldaver said the recent climate change challenge by the Yukon Conservation Society has created a lot of local exposure about the issue of global warming and how individuals can pitch in to do their part. The challenge offered prizes to several local families who spent six weeks reducing their greenhouse gas output during their daily activities.

Increasing the use of public transit and reducing the number of vehicles burning gasoline is held out to be an effective tool to reduce climate change, she suggested.

Like Morgan, Maldaver said transit service must be included in all city planning initiatives, from the initial onset of planning for new roads and subdivisions.

Transit service needs to be recognized as an essential public service, the cost for which must be measured against it environmental benefits, Maldaver said.

'And the city must recognize the value and importance of gaining public involvement in the design and management of our transit service.'

A recent meeting of the citizens' transit improvement committee was positive proof of how the public can provide innovative suggestions to solutions, she said.

The interim committee was formed earlier this year to help guide a public process to look at improving transit services. It was formed in the wake of last July's transit cuts by the previous city council which argued Whitehorse could not sustain its level of transit service with the money available.

The transit improvement committee and the city's transit department are scheduled to host three days of public input April 22, 23 and 24.

The Whitehorse transit system is the most expensive in Canada to operate among municipalities with populations under 50,000, according to a report prepared for the city.

For each passenger last year, taxpayers paid $5.81 per ride before the fare was taken into account. It's expected taxpayers will pay $4.93 for each rider this year, before the fare is considered.

Meanwhile, council has been asked to provide the transit department with an additional $7,884 to reinstate handy bus service for the city's country residential subdivisions. The service was cut last July at the same time regular transit service to country residential service was dropped for budget reasons.

Transit manager Dave Muir told council Monday night there is no room in the existing handy bus service to reinstate country residential service. The $7,884 is needed to provide for a second bus and driver, he said.

Council will vote on the request this Tuesday evening.