Fort Erie hoping for more in third year of amalgamated transit system

Fort Erie councillors are eager to get some face time with Niagara Transit officials as they continue their push for improved services in town.

A letter from Niagara Transit general manager Carla Stout accompanied by the organization’s 2024 report was a part of the consent agenda for Fort Erie’s May 26 council meeting.

“This annual report reflects our achievements and the challenges we faced in our second year of operation, as well as providing key performance indicators (KPIs) we measure our service by,” said Stout in her letter.

But for some around the council horseshoe, the report was a little light on the challenges.

“A lot of the people in 2024 did not find this program safe or reliable,” said Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes, referring to part of the organization’s mission statement that refers to providing a safe and reliable service.

“Not by a long shot,” she added.

The report suggested Niagara Transit had nearly 100 per cent service delivery, along with 83 per cent on-time performance, which is higher than the peer average of 79 per cent. Rider feedback also found 90 per cent of riders felt safe, above the Canadian average of 86 per cent, the report said.

However, Fort Erie councillors have been hearing otherwise locally.

Councillor George McDermott outlined complaints he’s received about the system’s specialized service leaving the same resident rideless multiple times.

Mayor Wayne Redekop also outlined concerns he’s heard and last year pitched a return of a conventional, fixed route for the east end.

Redekop told councillors that Niagara Transit staff are expected to come before council at a meeting in late June, which council members welcomed.

“You’ll have an opportunity to ask them direct questions,” he said.

Councillor Nick Dubanow said Niagara Transit’s report provided evidence of the need to bring back a fixed route in town.

“When you look at the numbers of on-demand (microtransit) riders we have here in Fort Erie relative to all the other municipalities combined in the region, I think that’s a business case right there,” he said.

Redekop said the challenge isn’t in the ridership numbers, but in getting the bus and rearranging the routes.

“We’re told that’s going to happen. It won’t be until next year though,” he said.

According to the report, in the first quarter of 2025, more than 25,000 Fort Erie passengers were picked up by Niagara Transit’s Voyago contract, which offers microtransit and specialized transit services.

That was nearly 10,000 more than the next highest in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

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