Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Bus nearing the end of the line

The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Bus will soon make its last trip. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco reports on the city’s decision, despite pushback.

The vote is in. Windsor City Council is hitting the brakes on the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Bus, despite the majority voting to keep the service.

There were a lot of opinions shared during a special council meeting held Friday morning and for the second time, the majority lost the vote. That doesn’t sit well with City Councillor Fabio Costante.

“That, to me, is more alarming than any decision made around the table,” Costante told CTV News. He was one of six councillors who voted to overturn the mayor’s veto and continue funding the tunnel bus to Detroit.

The 6-5 vote was tighter than the first vote to save the tunnel bus, but in the end didn’t meet the required two-thirds vote, effectively ending the service.

“The process is more paramount than the actual outcome and much of the work that we do here as a council body and that has been stripped away through this Strong Mayor legislation,” said Costante.

Councillor Renaldo Agostino was disappointed by the result.

“People want the service at an affordable price, a way that makes it work, and you get all the parties in here and you lock those doors, and nobody leaves until you figure it out,” said Agostino.

“That’s what our job is and that’s kind of what I’m disappointed didn’t happen.”

Several councillors would have preferred more time to find possible partnerships.

“If we gave it a year and we tried our best and saw what the outcome was, if we lose, I don’t think anybody would have been mad. If we succeed, we will still be able to keep this service,” Agostino suggested.

In late January, council voted 7-4 in favour of maintaining the tunnel bus and increasing the fare to $20 each way.

Ward 10 councillor Jim Morrison had a change of heart, voting to support the mayor’s veto Friday.

“It really went against the grain on what I think taxpayers are looking for from us, that we make tough, good decisions that keep the taxes in line with inflation,” Morrison said.

Mayor Drew Dilkens said his decision comes down to the city’s ability to pay for 10 federally mandated sick days to transit employees.

“If the legislation changes, that’s new facts, new information that would make this service practical to run again,” he said.

“We wouldn’t have to be subsidizing it to the tune of $1.6 million a year.”

Dilkens added the service will wind down over the next six months, with more details coming soon.

He pointed to municipalities in Essex County that pay to help operate the busses that serve their communities. He said it costs city taxpayers $35 per person each way to and from Detroit.

“Why are we paying the full spare and subsidizing $1.6 million to bring people over to Detroit when their country is threatening us economically at this time, and we can’t break even?”

Dilkens expects the service to be available until the end of the summer.