Is more city control the next stop for London Transit?

The City of London is moving to hire an outside auditor to study London transit operations, with the deputy mayor suggesting the city should have more direct control over transit operations. 

A report coming to the strategic priorities and policy committee on Tuesday recommends council hire a consultant, at an estimated cost of $300,000, to look at better ways to run the London Transit Commission. 

As it stands now, the LTC is governed by a seven-member commission with two council representatives. The LTC board has full control over the transit service operations, although the current structure allows city council to give the LTC specific directions.

It's a governance model in use in cities such as Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa, but the review, if it's endorsed by the council, gives specific direction to look at ways to oversee transit operations "including, but not limited to, the municipality delivering the service directly." 

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, a frequent critic of the LTC, is worried the commission isn't prepared to run the two bus rapid transit lines currently under construction. 

"And if the LTC is not in a position to run rapid transit, then do we need to bring the whole transit system in-house?" said Lewis. "I have some serious questions about how LTC is preparing let alone if they're prepared and ready to run a rapid transit system. "

CBC News reached out to LTC director Kelly Paleczny for comment on Thursday, but did not receive a reply. 

In 2019, council endorsed the construction of three BRT lines touted as a faster and more reliable form of transit. The Downtown Loop line, an essential circle of new bus lanes around the downtown core, is up and running. Two lines that extend outward from downtown are currently under construction. 

The East London Link will run from downtown to Fanshawe College and is slated to begin operating in the fall of 2027. The Wellington Gateway will connect downtown with south London in a route that runs along Wellington Street. LTC documents say the Wellington Gateway will start taking passengers in 2028.

'Extra layer of bureaucracy'

Lewis said he'll see what suggestions the audit brings back, as it stands now he's not convinced that having a board is the best model.

"It's an extra layer of bureaucracy, to my point of view," he said. "Although we have two councillors on the commission, council itself does not get to direct the commission directly." 

The consultant overseeing the audit will also asked to take a hard look at how subsidized transit passes for students and other groups are being used to access the system. Lewis has been critical of the current student pass system in which all full-time students at Western University and Fanshawe College are issued a transit pass, which is included as part of the cost of their student fees.  

While Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary all have transit commissions, other Canadian midsize cities operate without one, including Hamilton, Saskatoon, Regina and Victoria. 

LTC board Chair Stephanie Marentette said she's open having an outside auditor look at ways to improve how the LTC operates. However, she said the service will need more funding to meet London's transit needs regardless of how the service is governed. 

"London's population is exploding and we need the funding to keep pace with that demand," she said. "Status quo funding won't lead to cuts but it certainly feels that way." 

Coun. David Ferreira, a council representative on the LTC board, is also keeping an open mind about a shift away from the public board oversight model but worries shifting transit governance to council means transit decisions could lead to more "political layering." 

"I'm in wait-and-see mode on this," he said. "I just want to make sure that transit is run as effectively as possible," he said. 

The report and its recommendation to hire an auditor are on the agenda of Tuesday's committee meeting.