Weekly tunnel bus service could end Aug. 31, special events bus Dec. 20

A Windsor Transit Bus, Jan. 28, 2025 (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor)

A report going to Windsor city council recommends the termination of weekly tunnel bus service to Detroit on Aug. 31, 2025.

The Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee also recommends that council continue offering special events services through Dec. 20, 2025.

The committee says this timeline aligns with the transit operator’s shift sign-up process for new pieces of work, and the implementation of the new service plan in September.

At the special meeting of city council on Feb. 21, mayor Drew Dilkens’ decision was upheld to eliminate the tunnel bus/special events service. As a result of this decision, the City of Windsor and Transit Windsor Administration must notify various stakeholders about the elimination of this service, and the termination of Transit Windsor’s status as a federally regulated employer.

“Given the timing of this decision in early 2025, Transit Windsor employees are still entitled to use the personal medical leave (PML) days provided to them for the calendar year, as Transit Windsor was still a federally regulated service provider as of Jan. 1, 2025. Based on past usage of the PML days, it is expected that this cost of approximately $1.4M to $1.6M will be incurred regardless of the proposed termination date for the tunnel bus and special events service,” outlined the report.

By operating the services until the end dates in the report, additional revenue of about $638,800 is projected to be generated to help offset a portion of the PML expense that will occur in 2025.

The revenues projected are based on the current rate remaining in place of $10 per trip, each way.

The report also says by reallocating resources from the tunnel bus, administration can address service challenges and enhance transit operations where needed.