Administration within the City of Thompson is proposing the city purchase two new handicap accessible buses this year at a price tag of $845,136. The proposal came forward at the city council meeting on March 15.
A report was submitted to Mayor Tim Johnston and the rest of city council, with the proposal suggesting that the two new buses continue to fall under the maintenance system of the other buses in the city and be contracted out. The vehicles, which have been suggested to be purchased at the end of March and be delivered late in the year, are two D35LFR vehicles from New Flyer. The total price for the buses would cost $845,136. The City of Brandon has purchased 11 buses form New Flyer and the proposal suggests that the City of Thompson add two buses to that order for the best possible price.
According to the proposal, buses in the City of Thompson see their heaviest uses at R. D. Parker Collegiate before school starts in the morning -- with about 20 students riding - and again when school lets out. As well, most passengers come from the east side of the city and are heading towards R. D. Parker. City administration has suggested that a new route be created which would provide "enhanced service" to the east side of town and would also allow for an increase of 30 per cent in the number of times that the area is serviced during the busier early morning and afternoon periods throughout the day.
The City of Thompson must still decide which type of bus to purchase -- one of which is a "medium duty" bus that would transport 19 to 24 passengers, which could be purchased, according to city administration, for around $180,000, and would have a life span of about six years. Administration did, however, point out that with this type of smaller bus service levels tend to drop due to required maintenance. The second choice would be a "heavy duty" bus, built specifically for city transit systems. City of Thompson administration says this type of bus provides a better service level and is therefore recommending the city purchase the New Flyer 35LFR. Life expectancy for this vehicle is reported at 15 years with greater reliability and seating for around 30 people. The proposal goes on to say that the Gas Tax revenue, which is specifically allocated for transit, of $128,000 a year, should be in place until 2015 in the City of Thompson, but after that there would be no guarantee in funding.
The proposal suggests a communications plan that would allow for members of the public to provide input on bus routes and other areas of interest, with public meetings being held from April to June.
Coun. Oswald Sawh says the transit system in the City of Thompson has been a problem for many years, citing decreases in ridership and challenges with bus routes including people waiting to be picked up for a long time at bus stops. He says the plan proposed by administration touches on a lot of those issues.
Johnston says he commends council for deciding to focus on the transit system in the city in the face of many challenges. He stresses he believes it is the right decision for the city to make to continue to provide not just a continued transit system but a better transit system, saying highway buses should be unacceptable within the city.
"I absolutely support this proposal -- it will challenge us in terms of going forward on some other issues, but quite frankly it will allow us to operate at a level that the City of Thompson should be at," he explains.
The next step for the city to undertake would be to have council approve the proposal for the purchase of the two new buses, to meet with R. D. Parker to get permission to hold a meeting for students about the transit system, and to hold public meetings on proposed routes and other areas of discussion about the public transit system. The recommendation will again show up at city council at its next meeting to be voted upon.
