With Contract Signed Sides Push For More Ridership

By Robert Thomas

Now that a new four year deal has been struck between UNIFOR, who represents 18 employees working for Moose Jaw Transit, and the City the word is now for people to ride the bus.

In the media scrum, following signing the agreement Mayor Clive Tolley encouraged people to make use of the transit system - both regular and para transit systems.

“I say to the community use our buses. We need to ridership to go up, we need revenues to increase so it’s not as much of a subsidy required by the City of Moose Jaw. But it is certainly something very important to Moose Jaw,” Mayor Tolley said.

The Mayor said transit, which is heavily subsidized by taxpayers, needs more ridership to reduce the subsidy to the system.

New Deal Inked Between City And Transit Employees (left to right) -TJ KARWANDY, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, JIM WIENS, UNIFOR REP, MAYOR CLIVE TOLLEY, JONATHAN CORNFORD, CITY TRANSIT DRIVER, CORRINE GIBBS, CITY TRANSIT DRIVER, MARYSE CARMICHAEL, CITY MANAGER.

The Mayor pointed to the necessity of having a transit system as part of the population growth Moose Jaw is experiencing.

“We have more and more New Canadians, new immigrants coming to our community, most of them don’t have cars and they need to use the bus service,” he said.

The Mayor said it’s not just New Canadians but everyone who could benefit from using transit.

“I think we can all benefit using our transit system, and we encourage people to do that,” he said.

“Ridership going up helps and sometimes leave the car at home and take the bus.”

The Mayor said there was a push to make transit systems more responsive to ridership across the country.

“When I was at FCM (Federation of Community Municipalities convention) in Toronto there’s a lot of talk there about making a transit system that is more adaptable. Perhaps dial a bus. Stop at the places you have to stop. Stop where a customer is waiting using technology.”

Asked by MJ Independent about Moose Jaw Transit drivers who stop in more convenient locations based on weather and other conditions the Mayor said it was commendable.

“I credit our drivers and management for that. That’s being a good driver and citizen for the City of Moose Jaw.”

Jim Wiens, local chair for UNIFOR Local 101R, agrees with the Mayor the need to increase ridership.

“A lot of time we miss the piece we have transit buses (in the) City are making (stops on) a route but we also have a really viable para transit system in the city as well…these drivers are able to get them to places that are not on a bus route.”

Asked by MJ Independent about the lack of violence and respect for drivers in Moose Jaw compared to other centres - such as Saskatoon and Regina - Wiens said it is a sign of the professionalism amongst the drivers dealing with the public.