After a nearly $8-million deficit in 2025, the Transit Windsor Master Plan will be reviewed earlier than anticipated.
City of Windsor administration reported the $7,954,750 deficit was born out of lower revenues due to the reduction in international students, a reduction of gas tax funding and increases in the maintenance budget.
A review of the master plan was recommended because of the changing ridership landscape and approved future development in the Sandwich South Lands.
"I think that there's room for improvement with respect to the services that we're currently offering in terms of where we are going, and how those resources in terms of frequency and fleet allocation are being allocated under the current model," said Councillor Kieran McKenzie.
Funding for the formal Transit Windsor Master Plan review will be a part of the 2027 budget. The review will be complete in 2029.
Recently installed fare box technology will allow the organization to collect data that will be an important part of this review.
"It will allow us to do a better job with respect to route rationalization. To make sure that the routes that we have in place, the frequencies are meeting demand, who is riding the bus, where they want to go, and it will allow us to have that ongoing conversation," said McKenzie.
The original Transit Master Plan was approved in 2020 and was intended to be reviewed every 10 years.
