City buses won’t be free anymore starting next month, as the city tries to recover $2.3-million in COVID-19 costs.
Thunder Bay City Council agreed last night to bring back fares on July 20th to make up for the money the city has lost because of the pandemic.
That will bring the city around $165,000 per month. The transit department is also phasing out the 20-ride punch passes and day pass, and reducing the price of ten bus tickets to $25.
You will also see Plexiglas shields on buses to protect the driver from virus particles. City officials say those will be separate from the barriers that are supposed to be installed to shield drivers from aggressive passengers.
Council is cancelling a transfer of $250,000 to the Renew Thunder Bay Reserve Fund, and removing $100,000 from the transfer to the Clean, Green, and Beautiful Reserve Fund.
Thunder Bay is also delaying over $1-million in spending like maintenance and upgrades for the VictoriaVille centre and Community Auditorium.
Some facilities that have been closed due to the pandemic will stay that way, including outdoor pools. Current River Councillor Andrew Foulds says that’s not a worthwhile trade-off as the weather warms up.
“I believe we have to provide some youth programming for the summer,” Foulds says. “School is done in a couple of weeks, and our youth need to have safe things to do.”
City Council will get a full report on the financial effects of COVID-19 in July.
