Short thread, a counterpoint: we don’t need a $900k study to tell us that free transit is better; it’s possible & creates a positive social outcome; it’s a balance to road/car subsidies and makes sense if we want to be the bold leaders we think we are; 1/
While it’s easy to have a knee jerk reaction and say “my taxes” the reality is the $ we save holistically on fare collection, enforcement, insurance, processing etc combined with the benefit to society, this likely comes out in the wash 2/
But yes, we need to fix transit; make it reliable and better for #people; we need to address social shortcomings in transit service, social equality and barriers such as #accessible transit; will free transit be the panacea? Nope, but our current model isn’t either. 3/
We need creative ideas to address the challenge of our “world class” system that’s made us a laughing stock or how to ruin a transit system; we need solutions that tie into a broader policy objective of a better city 4/
Free transit might be one of those options; a congestion charge (say, to cross the greenbelt) might be another; free transit w/in a zone & fares to cross zones is another; both might help create stronger communities by encouraging ppl to live/work/shop w/in a hub; 5/
Better road design; better active transportation; better design of lrt stations; more integration w/Gatineau transit (hello Wellington tram); higher parking rates; change in city policy on offering free parking downtown but not comparable free transit….list goes on 6/
TL:DR? Free transit is one of sev tools to create a more just, more equitable city. We know this; we know we don’t need to spend $900k and a year reaffirming this; we know many places/ways we waste $ as a city and further an economic/social divide by unequal treatment.

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More from @Toon_Dreessen

Jul 17, 2021
@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West This is complex. I’ll try to answer, and take this from my perspective w/the challenges I see. This is, some some greater or lesser degree and repeat of the many things I’ve said over the years. 1/
@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West To begin, infrastructure projects are hugely complex to finance and approve. Often they’re approved based on a budget that everyone knows is never going to happen but is the budget that CAN be approved. Months/years later, revised budgets get submitted and at point, too late 2/
@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West The public is excited, or other partners are on board, so City can’t pull out, or decisions are made based on this project that then drive others. So officials get resentful of the “supposed” budget overages that are blamed on the consultant. Really, fixing this is easy 3/
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