Windsor offered $28M in federal transit funding in exchange for housing density amendments

The City of Windsor will receive more than $28 million over 10 years for major transit investments, MP Irek Kusmierczyk announced Friday, if it agrees to zoning amendments that increase housing density around transit stations. 

It means $2.8 million annually to Transit Windsor to "upgrade, replace and modernize" the city's transit infrastructure. 

"This is a big investment. It's a historic investment in Transit Windsor. We believe in Transit Windsor. We believe it's important for growing and vibrant cities," the Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh MP said. 

"We're going to be joining a long list of communities that have already received that funding, that have signed the agreements."

To access the funding, the city will need to agree to some zoning changes that allow increased residential density within 800 metres of high-frequency transit lines and post-secondary institutions. 

"We want to not only invest in public transit, which we think is so important, but we're also investing in housing ... So you think about Tecumseh Road, you think about Wyandotte (Street), they have to permit high-density apartments to be built," he said. 

"There are housing conditions that are attached to that because, again, strong, thriving, vibrant cities need strong public transit, but they also need affordable housing that working families, seniors and young people can afford."

The funding starts in 2026 and runs through 2036. Kusmierczyk made the announcement at the city's east end Transit Windsor terminal. 

Ward 9 City Coun. Kieran McKenzie said the changes the federal government requires already align closely with the "Housing Solutions Made for Windsor," plan the city has adopted. 

"Anytime anybody, any level of government wants to support transit or housing, I'm there. This is a program that is going to help us on both of those fronts," McKenzie said.

"This program, I think it's largely consistent with the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor that that council has already endorsed. So I don't think we're going to see significant challenges on that front in terms of moving forward. I think the biggest — not challenge, the nice problem to have — will be looking at what is available, what we will prioritize with those funds."

McKenzie said the city's housing solutions plan already identified key roads and transit corridors for densification, and says he understands the criteria for this money is consistent with council's position. 

The Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan had been put forward as the city's application to the Housing Accelerator Fund, which was denied because it wasn't ambitious enough on high density housing, especially four units as of right, for the highly competitive pot of money.

McKenzie said the city will be looking at a number of issues including hoists in the transit garage, improvements to the garage itself and more bus shelters at locations around the city. 

"So this funding will be extremely helpful for us moving forward ... in terms of the application process and meeting the criteria, frankly I think we're already there."

The money comes from the Canadian Public Transit Fund, which provides billions per year in funding for transit agencies, a press release noted.

The dollars are capital — which means they'll have little impact on operational issues, like funding the tunnel bus, McKenzie said. 

"I said it during the debate, I've said it publicly many times: The cancellation of the tunnel bus service is one of the worst decisions that I've seen our council make in my time on council," he said. "This program, as good as it is, I don't think will ... give us an opportunity to revisit that."