07-07-2022, 01:20 AM
(07-06-2022, 08:00 PM)timc Wrote: Maybe I don't understand how these things work, but isn't the agreed schedule part of the ION contract? Like, didn't we already lay out how much we are paying and figure out the financing for that service level?
No, that's not how the contract was setup. The contract specifies a formula for costing a schedule, the notice periods for schedule changes, etc, but the region retained control over setting the schedule (or at least setting the service levels, exact scheduling may be with Keolis).
The region did budget a certain amount, but that was based on a certain ridership. As ridership is lower than forecast (I don't think we have recovered to full pre-pandemic ridership) they have to either find more money (e.g. raise taxes) or cut service. I think the cut service option is quite short sighted, but with current budget pressures I'm hardly surprised.