07-07-2022, 11:59 AM
(07-07-2022, 01:20 AM)taylortbb Wrote:(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.
conservative council
Budget pressure are fixed, but how we respond to them isn't. It is the fact that we have a largely conservative council that pushes us to make cuts instead of investments.
That being said, I still want to know why and how this decision was made. Like I said, for a service increase, we are looking at years of public consultation, multiple council votes, yet a reduction is done unilaterally with no input, and AFAIK no vote at council? How is it possible for staff to have this authority. If it was by a council vote, how did it fly under the radar so.
It feels like a very uphill battle. But you folks already know I gave up on fighting the war a while back so you folks know I have sympathy for you. (FWIW...there are similar situations here, train service is being cut, but if I told you from what to what, you'd hate me).