Invest one cent of gas tax in public transit: NDP

New Stats Can study shows ridership increasing twice as fast as revenue

OTTAWA – With ridership increasing faster than revenues, public transit must be a top priority in the next budget, according to New Democrat Transportation Critic, Olivia Chow.

The NDP was reacting to new urban transit data published Wednesday by Statistics Canada. The survey revealed that operating revenues for the ten major urban transit systems in Canada – which represent 80% of the total ridership of the country’s urban transit – rose 2% since December 2010. The number of passenger trips rose by more than double that, 4.4% during the same period.

“Public transit helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion. It’s the way forward in our communities,” Chow pointed out. “This is why we have proposed the practical idea of dedicating one cent of the federal excise tax on gasoline to public transit.”

Chow has been touring the country pushing the New Democrats national public transit strategy, which includes directing one cent of the existing gas tax to public transit.

“More and more Canadians are using public transit. New Democrats understand the importance of fast, accessible and affordable transit to our communities,” said Chow. “Unfortunately, Conservatives have failed to act and under their watch, transit is falling further behind.”