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Heather Cook unveils transit platform

Transit is one of the most important issues in Sault Ste. Marie. Having a transit system with more services and less fees is something I aim to achieve if you trust me with your vote in October.

Transit is one of the most important issues in Sault Ste. Marie.

Having a transit system with more services and less fees is something I aim to achieve if you trust me with your vote in October.

Since 2010, services have been cut and transit fares have increased.

This is not how a transit system should operate.

People should not have to pay more money for poorer service.

That is why, if elected Mayor, reforming the transit system will be one of my top priorities.

Firstly, one of my goals is to lower fares for seniors.

Instead of paying $50 for a 31-day bus pass, I propose that seniors over the age of 65 pay only $35, and for an individual bus ride, only $2 (down from the current $2.50).

Next, we need to restore half-hour bus services during business hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Saturdays, buses should run on half-hour service from 9:15 a.m. until 7:15 p.m.

On Sundays, the half-hour service should run between 12:15 p.m. until 7:15 p.m.

This schedule largely corresponds with weekend business hours.

Thirdly, some areas of Sault Ste. Marie are not well serviced by a bus route.

If elected, the citizens of the P-Patch will have better access to transit.

I will also work to establish bus service to Strathclair fields the Humane Society, and the new St. Mary's Secondary school, which is scheduled to open in 2015.

Lastly, the bus fleet in Sault Ste. Marie is among the oldest fleets in the province.

If elected, I will press the federal and provincial governments to provide more funding to modernize our fleet.

Bus drivers have went on record to claim that the old buses "break down" often in the winter months.

As we all know, Sault Ste. Marie has some very cold winters, and we have to ask ourselves: Can the old buses we have now continue to tolerate being used so constantly when the temperatures are so low? 

If you think we need to lower fares for seniors, if you think we need to restore half-hour service during weekends, if you think we need to expand bus routes, and if you think we need to modernize our bus fleet, please give me your trust and your vote for mayor on October 27.


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