Council Approves Purchase Of Transit Tracking System

Saint John council has approved $650,000 out of next year’s capital budget to purchase and install a transit tracking system.

Coun. Joanna Killen brought forward the motion during council’s regular meeting on Monday night.

Killen said the results of the recent transit review conducted by Stantec are “problematic” due to the lack of data on passenger usage.

City staff were already planning to bring forward the suggestion for a transit tracking system during the upcoming budget planning process, she said.

“However, with the capital budget approval anticipated only in late October, we are losing valuable time in the procurement and installation of this vital tool,” said Killen.

“Without the necessary data, informed decisions based on ridership are very difficult.”

In addition to automatic passenger counting, the system would provide real-time vehicle locations and alternate payment options, according to Killen’s motion.

But not everyone was on board with the idea. Coun. Gary Sullivan was one of two members to vote against the proposal.

Sullivan said he is in favour of gathering data but is concerned about approving an expense outside the capital budget process.

“If council approves this motion tonight, that means $650,000 is automatically allocated without knowing what the other $12 million plus outside contributions are for,” he said.

Coun. Greg Norton agreed with Sullivan’s remarks and said council should wait until the budget process before making any decisions.

“If this is something that’s going to happen anyways and staff is bringing it forward, council has assurance that they are going to see this, why do we have to do this some four, eight weeks in advance,” said Norton.

Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie said while he understands the concerns expressed by Sullivan and Norton, getting the equipment sooner will allow them quicker access to the data.

“Transit has been a priority, and without the data, it’s not a great priority because we don’t know what we need to do,” said MacKenzie.

Council voted 8-2 to approve the purchase, with Sullivan and Norton being the dissenting votes.