Stop Durham Region Transit 2024 Budget Cuts
The Issue
In Fall 2023, Durham Region Transit (DRT) saw a massive increase in ridership. In September 2023, ridership was 30% higher than pre-pandemic ridership in September 2019. DRT saw 1.5 million monthly riders and 67,000 daily riders on weekdays. This high ridership has caused many problems. Buses on the busiest routes are constantly full and buses often skip stops because they are full.
To adjust to demand, DRT cut service and redesigned routes on the least busy routes to improve service on the busiest routes. Due to there not being enough service hours for both services. These service changes took effect at the start of January 2024.
In a report released in December 2023, DRT stated that if resources were available, DRT would massively boost service on 15 routes today. This would require 195,000 additional service hours and 41 additional buses
In the 2024 Durham Region Budget, over $8 million were planned to increase the budget of DRT. However, due to budget pressures, regional councilors decided to make cuts to DRT in a December 20th meeting. This means that the amount of service hours in 2024 will be the same as 2023. Which means less capacity, longer wait times, more packed busses, more passengers being left behind at stops, no room for ridership growth, and worse transit access.
If we care about combatting climate change, creating opportunities, decreasing road accidents, providing equitable transportation, and reducing traffic. We need to invest in transit. The demand for more transit in Durham Region is there, we need to invest in it.
Sign this petition to tell Durham Region to reinstate the $8 million budget increase for DRT which is now proposed to be cut. As well as further investments so DRT has the resources to implement the 195,000 additional service hours it is proposing. To combat climate change, create opportunities, decrease road accidents, help build efficient and sustainable housing, increase capacity, provide equitable transportation, reduce traffic, and serve existing and future demand,
The Issue
In Fall 2023, Durham Region Transit (DRT) saw a massive increase in ridership. In September 2023, ridership was 30% higher than pre-pandemic ridership in September 2019. DRT saw 1.5 million monthly riders and 67,000 daily riders on weekdays. This high ridership has caused many problems. Buses on the busiest routes are constantly full and buses often skip stops because they are full.
To adjust to demand, DRT cut service and redesigned routes on the least busy routes to improve service on the busiest routes. Due to there not being enough service hours for both services. These service changes took effect at the start of January 2024.
In a report released in December 2023, DRT stated that if resources were available, DRT would massively boost service on 15 routes today. This would require 195,000 additional service hours and 41 additional buses
In the 2024 Durham Region Budget, over $8 million were planned to increase the budget of DRT. However, due to budget pressures, regional councilors decided to make cuts to DRT in a December 20th meeting. This means that the amount of service hours in 2024 will be the same as 2023. Which means less capacity, longer wait times, more packed busses, more passengers being left behind at stops, no room for ridership growth, and worse transit access.
If we care about combatting climate change, creating opportunities, decreasing road accidents, providing equitable transportation, and reducing traffic. We need to invest in transit. The demand for more transit in Durham Region is there, we need to invest in it.
Sign this petition to tell Durham Region to reinstate the $8 million budget increase for DRT which is now proposed to be cut. As well as further investments so DRT has the resources to implement the 195,000 additional service hours it is proposing. To combat climate change, create opportunities, decrease road accidents, help build efficient and sustainable housing, increase capacity, provide equitable transportation, reduce traffic, and serve existing and future demand,
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on January 9, 2024