Public transportation could become even safer next year if a motion to increase security on buses and LRT trains is considered necessary.
The $1-million motion was passed during budget deliberations yesterday but is considered just an option at the moment.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said council won’t make a decision on the motion until spring, when the mill rate will also be set, but he also said that transit security is a high priority.
“There’s no question that citizens have told us that they want more transit security,” he said.
A report will be coming forward, likely in the new year, regarding the use of peace and police officers, reflecting a shift in the way they are deployed by the city to patrol transit lines.
Whether or not transit becomes safer, it will, at $2.85, cost 10 cents more in 2011. A $3.2-million motion to keep fares at 2010 levels was withdrawn.
“I’m concerned about the increase,” said Coun. Don Iveson, referring more to cash fares than monthly passes. “We need a … model for transit so it doesn’t cost this much to try our transit system.”
However, the budget does allocate approximately $500,000 for increases to midday, weekend and early-evening bus services.
