Metrobus riders are worried city hall funding cut will translate into a drop in quality
Metrobus is experiencing a surge of ridership in 2023. (Elizabeth Whitten/CBC)
Edward Adams knows exactly how valuable Metrobus is to people in St. John's; he uses it up to five times a day, he says, often to get to doctor appointments.
But earlier this week, St. John's city council announced it was reducing its funding by $1.4 million — and that has him worried.
"People've got to speak out," Adams told CBC News on Thursday while waiting for bus at the Avalon Mall Hub. "We, the people of this city, need the transportation for the buses."
The cut is coming despite bus use increasing by 44 per cent over 2019, according to the city. Adams has mobility issues and says he's worried that a cut in funding will mean more problems with a bus system that's strained enough as it is. There have been times he hasn't been able to get on the bus because of the increase in riders, he said.
"I try to get the bus with the handicap thing here, trying to get on, overcrowded. And if you're going to cut back on services, what are you going to do?"
Edward Adams said he uses the bus several times a day, often for essential trips like to medical appointments. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)
Ellsworth says no cuts to service
Ron Ellsworth, council's finance head, said people don't need to worry that Metrobus services will decline.
"Council is fully aware of the importance of transit. Council is fully aware of the needs of transit and we are building capacity," he said Thursday.
Due to its increased ridership, Metrobus doesn't need the as much of an operating grant it had been getting from the city, he said.
"In 2023 we're looking at about a $5-million surplus coming out of Metrobus," he said, adding Metrobus is using $1.7 million to pay down its debt, which will save the city $800,000 next year.
Route enhancements are also coming, he added, and there is a survey in the works that will gather information from riders on what they need from Metrobus.
As much as 70 per cent of Metrobus's funding has come from the city but that will now be 35 per cent, with $7 million coming from riders.
"That number will continue to increase, but our cost doesn't have to increase to increase the ridership," said Ellsworth.
"The buses are on the road, the fuel's on the road, you know, the personnel is on the road. The back end supports are there. So every extra person who rides the bus is an increase in revenue."
That additional revenue can be put toward enhancing services, he said.
On top of that, he said, Mount Pearl and Paradise have both increased its funding for Metrobus.
The soaring increase in ridership is "unprecedented," he said, and he doesn't think it's a fluke that will recede.
In a previous interview with CBC News, Metrobus general manager Judy Powell said Metrobus was previously seeing 3.1 to 3.2 million rides a year and will likely see 4.5 million riders by the end of 2023.
Worry lingers
Adams is skeptical of Ellsworth's suggestion that Metrobus services won't be affected.
"I don't believe a word he says anyway, right?" he said. "It's like, it's not coming out of your pocket, is it? You know, coming out of taxpayers' money."
He'd like to see more buses on the road, pointing out more people are moving to St. John's and using the bus routes.
Yasamin Zaki says she's worried a cut in city funding will result in a decline in service. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)
Yasamin Zaki said she uses the bus every day to get around town, including going to the gym, attending class and going to the library.
It's difficult for student bus riders to hear the city has reduced its support for Metrobus, she said, because it's a service they use a lot. Like Adams, she worries the cut will lead to a decline in service.
"If we don't have transportation, we won't be able to go to school, university or whatever, you know, we are doing in our daily basis life," said Zaki.
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