City of Regina opts to make public transit free for kids under 13

Regina city council has decided to make public transit free for those under the age of 13.

Previously, it was only free for kids aged four and under. Youths between the ages of five and 14 and those attending high school could ride the bus at a discounted rate of $2.75.

Acting Deputy Mayor and Coun. Lori Bresciani feels the move will help increase ridership among youths as public transit continues to grow throughout the city.

“I think it’s important because we want to get more youth on the bus. It gives them an opportunity to try it and it promotes our transit,” she explained.

The move by council will only cost the city approximately $2,000 per year.

Kim Onrait, the city’s executive director of citizen services, said making transit free for youths under 13 was actually a part of the new Transit Master Plan.

“That was a recommendation made by the consultant,” he said.

Council also decided to continue discussions at budget time around making transit free for all residents under the age of 18 and for seniors from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Onrait suggests the move by council could help improve ridership, but added expanding the free service would come with a cost.

“There is a financial piece to that ask. It is about $1.9 million. You’ve got about a $1 million in revenue loss and about $900,000 in operating expenses,” he explained.

“So yes, it does help ridership. The younger riders we can attract, that spills over into when they get jobs and are used to using transit. But council has a number of items that will come forward at budget time that need to be considered and this will be one of them,” he added.

The rate change for kids 13 and under will start Aug. 28, right before the school year starts.

Just before the free transit fares for those under 13 was approved, council voted to slightly increase the paratransit fee.

Onrait said the move was made to help paratransit vehicles deal with the inflation the city is seeing.

“The rate is based on hourly and the reason for the rate increase is because of our third-party contractor,” he explained. “I believe (the increase) is just over two per cent. The majority of users for that chartered service are both school boards.”

Taxi rates increasing

Taxi rates in the city are going up slightly.

Capital Cabs owner Glen Sali addressed council on Wednesday and said a rate increase was needed in order to address the high fuel prices vehicles are seeing at the pumps.

The new rates will see the initial meter drop rate for the first 120 metres be increased from $4 to $4.25. A distance rate will also be changed from $0.25 for each additional 138 metres to $0.25 for each additional 127 metres. Taxicabs hired by the hour will be increased from $36 per hour to $39 per hour.

Whitmore Park

Some residents in Whitmore Park aren’t happy to hear that a cannabis store will be built in their neighbourhood.

Council voted 6-3 on Wednesday to allow The Joint, based out of Manitoba, to continue construction in a strip mall at 2104 Grant Rd.

Speaking at council, The Joint owner Bart Stras said his business was initially approved for a permit, but then had the permit temporarily paused because he was building his cannabis shop too close to a preschool.

However, when the permit was initially approved, there wasn’t a preschool operating in the area. It wasn’t until six months after work on the building began that the preschool opened up.

The city does have rules surrounding how close liquor or cannabis stores can be to a school or church. Currently, the city says a liquor or cannabis store must be built 60 metres away from a school. The city admitted it made a mistake in this situation.

Ballpark plan

Council approved a feasibility study to look into what it would take to construct a new multi-use outdoor facility that would cater to the baseball community.

The facility would be made up of synthetic turf if it is constructed. The study will cost $15,000 and it will be brought back to council in Q4 of 2022.