St. Clair College students vote on bus pass referendum, mayor says Transit Windsor is 'not a free service'

Students at St. Clair College will vote this week whether to continue with the Transit Windsor Saints bus pass, after a hefty price increase set to come in for the next school year.

Ryan Peebles, executive director of the Student Representative Council (SRC), says under a pilot project for the last three years, the cost of the 12-month pass ranged from $274 to $300, increasing each year with the cost of inflation.

With the agreement between the SRC and Transit Windsor set to expire in August, Peebles said the new negotiated price proposed by Transit Windsor is $823 per year — almost triple the current price. 

"[That's]  a good chunk of an increase," Peebles told CBC News, while acknowledging that it's "still a great rate" when compared with the adult pass.

"But again, it's still a very large sticker shock so we didn't feel right just shuffling that into a student fee," he said. "We thought it's best to get the students' voices, and if the students are in favour or not in favour then they can really voice their rights."

The yearly pass saves students age 19 or younger about $80 over the life of the pass, compared to buying monthly passes. Students age 20 or older save about $120. 

The pass was introduced as a pilot in 2022, and student ridership has since spiked: Students accounted for more than 5.5 million trips last year and are the majority of Transit Windsor's riders. 

If the referendum fails, the Saints pass will not be available. 

40% opt-out clause

Peebles said should the students vote to continue the program, the agreement with Transit Windsor includes an option for students to opt out.

He said up to a maximum of 40 per of the total student population, which is approximately 13,000, could opt out of the program.

"A lot of those students don't use that bus pass and so we didn't feel right charging them for that, so that's why we asked for the 40 per cent opt-out," Peebles said.

According to Peebles, students are currently going through the process of electing their student leaders for next year, and the referendum has been attached to that voting platform.

"At the end of this week, if the referendum passes, it then goes to the college's student fee protocol meeting. So, that's where the student leaders meet with college administration to discuss the fees," Peebles said. 

"And then if it's approved at that meeting, it then goes to the College Board of Governors for formal approval and if it's approved at the College Board of Governors level then we'll work out the final negotiation pieces with the City of Windsor for a final contract."

Students who spoke with CBC News on Monday said the increase is too much.

"As a student, it's quite a bit for me," said Drumil Triveti. "I don't know about the others but it's quite expensive for me."

For Pavitra Pandya, "that's too much. It would affect us because right now we don't have jobs, as you know, and we can't afford it, actually."

'Transit isn't free,' mayor says

Meanwhile, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is standing by the increase.

"Even at the new fare, it's still a deep discount from having to buy a regular pass. Transit isn't free. It's not a free service, and certainly the college users use the system a lot, which is fantastic, but there has to be an acknowledgement that they have to pay a fair share," Dilkens said, adding that students will have the final say and he's hopeful they approve the pass.

"It's not right for city taxpayers to pay a higher subsidy for international students who are studying at the St. Clair College when St. Clair College is a recipient of a huge financial windfall as a result of bringing those students here."

A spokesperson for the University of Windsor said the university's UPass agreement with Transit Windsor is in place until Aug. 31, 2029, and so students are not facing the same sticker shock next year. 

But Dylan Kristy said the agreement does includes a 3.4 per cent annual increase, meaning there will be a slight rise in cost each year. The cost of the UPass is as follows:

• $190 per academic year for all undergrad students returning to the University from the previous academic year.

• $296 per academic year for all GSS students, and all new undergrad students commencing studies at the University as of the 2024/2025 academic year and later.

• $200 summer semester for all students.