The Regional District of Nanaimo is considering free transit for youth.
The regional district’s committee of the whole voted to recommend the board approve the initiative following a presentation from students at its March 17 meeting.
The presentation highlighted the financial impact of transportation on families, including the cost of bus passes or driving children to activities.
Students shared survey results indicating some youth miss school or do not participate in extracurricular activities due to a lack of transportation.
They also said free transit could encourage long-term transit use and help reduce emissions by lowering reliance on personal vehicles.
The committee had previously asked staff to prepare a report on the financial implications after a similar presentation in January.
The report said there is no precise data on the age of transit riders, making it difficult to estimate the financial impact. It noted the effect would reflect forgone revenue rather than direct costs.
“The revenue isn’t lost. It’s just forgone,” said Scott Myers, manager of transportation and planning. “BC Transit’s concern at this juncture and we cannot validate it, would be that that revenue that is foregone can’t be reinvested into the system to grow the system. So as we bring on more riders, future riders, we grow the system but then we still need the funding.”
Myers referenced a report from a school board in Kingston, Ont., on the cost-benefit of a similar youth transit program.
That report cited 72,000 fewer car trips, a reduction of 70 tonnes of CO2, 10,000 hours saved by families and 16,000 fewer student absences.
Myers said it is unclear what benefits the regional district would see, but the Kingston report highlights potential outcomes.
The committee supported a motion to implement a fare-free transit program for youth 18 and under for two years, followed by a review.
“At its core, this program is a forward-looking investment into the long-term strength of our community and our transit system,” said director Ben Geselbracht. “If we want our transit to be viable and well used in the future, we need to build those habits early so when young people are using transit in the early part in their lives, they are far more likely to use it in adulthood and ultimately this creates a stable long-term ridership base and strengthens the sustainability of the overall system.”
The proposal will go to the regional district board for final consideration.
