At the next Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 19, Brandon City Council will consider a recommendation from City staff to amend the current transit capital plan to allow for the option to refurbish buses, due to the quicker turnaround time and relatively equal financial impact.
In a media release today the city said, “Several transit buses have reached or surpassed their life expectancy, necessitating immediate measures to sustain existing transit services. The City has already had to adjust its delivery service on three routes to maintain the current 30-minute service levels. This change reduces the number of buses needed during peak hours while still providing the necessary service to riders. In addition, the City will combine this approach with supplementary rentals along with the use of Access buses on certain routes to relieve pressure while preserving the current 30-minute service intervals.
Brandon has a fleet of 17 buses, 11 of which are from 2010 and are in poor condition. Now, on any given day, between eight and 10 out of 17 buses are out of service due to maintenance and repairs—at a time when bus ridership in Brandon is growing.
That’s why city staff are considering refurbishment as a potential option. Refurbishment can be completed more quickly, returning the fleet to new condition for the same cost through the lifecycle of a bus.
“Transit is an essential service for our community. When analyzing options, city staff consider the needs of transit users who count on our bus service to go shopping, get to work or make it to a medical appointment on time. Other important considerations include the dedicated workers who operate our transit fleet and affordability for bus riders and ratepayers, who deserve the lowest life-cycle costs we can achieve without impacting quality, frequent, convenient service,” said Carla Richardson, City of Brandon director of transportation.
Richardson pointed out that transit operations can remain stable if this proposed path forward is approved by City Council, but residents’ rides might look a little different. The transit team proposes maintaining service levels using smaller Access buses, TransCab vehicles and some leased buses to replace buses temporarily out for refurbishment. Richardson said accessibility needs will always be accommodated, and residents will be invited to call the Transit Dispatch Office at 204-729-2241 to ensure they have a convenient ride that fits their needs.
City Manager Ron Bowles said a full transit review is already underway to ensure Brandon’s bus routes are as efficient as possible. Staff, equipment, routes, fare prices, service levels and convenience are all being evaluated to ensure the service matches the need and Brandon is getting the best value for money from its transit system.
Addressing today’s aging fleet in the smartest way possible, and the push for long-term planning for future bus purchases, are the next steps in Brandon’s ongoing efforts to improve the city’s fiscal sustainability and resiliency, said Bowles.
Bowles added that Mayor Jeff Fawcett and city administration have been advocating effectively for Brandon to receive its fair share of funding from provincial and federal sources and will keep doing so. Prior to 2016, the province provided 50 per cent of transit operating funding, but funding was frozen in 2016 at $2.03 million despite steeply rising costs.
City staff are also recommending that Brandon adhere to lifecycle, capital contributions and maintenance recommendations based on industry standards; expand the garage and transit storage barn and install a bus wash to help maintain the fleet for longer; and evaluate the city’s current organizational structure compared to similar-sized cities to learn from their experience. “
