The city's experiment with giving seniors free rides on Mondays is officially at an end.
As part of the 2017 budget process, city councillors voted in December to formally end the pilot project, which was one of Mayor Brian Bigger's campaign promises in 2014.
The program began in 2015 and ended Dec. 31 last year. According to a staff report, 16,500 conventional rides and 2,350 Handi-Transit rides were recorded during the trial. The first three months averaged 2,300 rides per month, and the last three months 3,200 rides per month.
“As the definition of seniors was changed from 55 to 65 during that same period, it is a challenge for staff to compare ridership against 2015 to measure the program's success in assessing incremental ridership,” the report said. “There is, however, an general increase in use of the incentive during the trial period itself, especially with the conventional service.”
To continue with the service would have added $100,000 to the city's annual operating budget.
However, during budget deliberations, councillors directed staff to come up with a report on targeting discounts for transit and other city services to low-income residents.
Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer said he would rather have the money directed toward Sudburians who really need it.
“We shouldn't be subsidizing those who have (money),” Sizer said.
That report is due in the first quarter of the New Year.
