It could be a massive change in the way London high school students get to class.
Public school board trustees unanimously approved a motion to look at whether having those students ride to school on London Transit buses would make sense for the board, rather than paying yellow bus companies to pick them up.
During Tuesday’s Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) meeting, Trustee Lori Ann Pizzolato brought forward a motion to explore the feasibility of partnering with the City of London, St. Thomas and Woodstock and all conterminous school boards to provide municipal transit passes to secondary school students at no personal cost.
“In this process, I’d like to consult with the London Transit Commission, Woodstock Transit Department and the City of St. Thomas Environmental Service Department,” said Pizzolato in her address to the board. “In addition, I would like this report to gather the level of interest and support of this proposal from secondary school students and their families.”
Pizzolato highlighted several advantages of a high school transit program including increased attendance and instilling independence in students. She explained providing high school students with free transit passes will allow for them to easily participate in extra-curricular programs and activities that take place outside of classroom hours, and even assist them with obtaining and attending part-time employment. She also noted several environmental benefits that fit with London’s climate action plans.
A similar program was implemented in Kingston in 2012.
The feasibility study also has support from three city councillors including Deputy Mayor and Ward 2 Councillor Shawn Lewis, Ward 3 Councillor and former TVDSB trustee Peter Cuddy, and Ward 13 Councillor David Ferreira.
“As London Councillors, we believe that the model our London Transit Commission has in place already with Western University and Fanshawe College offers a good template for a starting point and would welcome the opportunity with you in the future to make this happen,” read a letter addressed to TVDBS trustees from Lewis, Cuddy, and Ferreira. “We believe high school student utilization of out public transit can offer much more flexibility for our students than the traditional yellow school bus service.”
The plan would also have indirect increases on LTC funding. The number of paid rides per year increases the amount of gas tax funding the transit commission receives from the province.
A final report on is expected to be brought back to Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee by February 2024.
