Jon Morgan
Platform
Advocate for better public transit in the Southwest
Address the root causes of disorder on our streets, in our neighbourhoods, and on our transit system
Support affordability programs
Push for smarter planning that keeps up with our growing communities
Survey Response
Infrastructure
Do you support prioritizing new transit infrastructure (such as LRT expansion and bus garages) over other forms of new capital spending?
Yes
Here in Southwest Edmonton we are woefully underserved by scheduled service on a route. On-demand service doesn’t even help residents in neighbourhoods like Paisley and I’m hearing about it at the doors constantly. Part of that feedback is because our newer neighbourhoods have aging youth starting high school and post-secondary and finding it challenging to get to school. We also have our newer neighbourhoods on the outside of the Henday building very dense. Part of the equation of putting so many people into a small area is to provide meaningful infrastructure to back it up and keep people moving. Increased transit service decreases congestion and vehicle reliance, reduces wear and tear on our roadways, and contributes to a healthier environment. The other part of that equation is redirecting our dollars from the privatized On Demand Service, which we don’t collect fares on, to publicly owned and operated scheduled ETS service.
From an operations and maintenance perspective, our one LRT garage for the Capital and Metro Lines is over capacity, and the Heritage Valley garage will be very much needed to house the LRVs we’ll need to operate our expansion to Heritage Valley and any further expansion beyond Clareview, NAIT, Heritage Valley, or even Health Sciences. Our bus garages are similar, with us still relying on Quonset huts at Ferrier Garage.
Infrastructure investment also means maintaining what we have, in particular our aging LRV fleet. A relatively small line item request from admin for a door maintenance package for our SD-160 LRVs was denied by council in the last 4 years. That small item has contributed to an increase in door problems and a decrease in service reliability with more doors shut off and delays to passengers. To extend the life of the assets we rely on, we need to keep up with the maintenance items that are requested.
How would you ensure that transit investments keep pace with population growth and new neighbourhood development?
We keep playing catch-up with transit investment. We’re still waiting for a bus station in Windermere, reliable and scheduled bus service in the suburbs, and LRT lines to the edge of the city. That service needs grow out with new developments with a commitment from council and administration to that operational and development funding as a core service.
In your view, what should be the top priority for improving transit service in Edmonton?
1- More frequent service during peak hours
2- More frequent service during off-peak hours
3- Expanding service to underserved neighbourhoods
4- Improving express/rapid connections across the city
3-Expanding service to underserved neighbourhoods
What trade-offs would you consider in the city budget to ensure transit service levels meet the needs of riders?
We need to dive deeper into the city’s budget to give specifics. That said, I think there are areas where we are doubling up our efforts, delivering services twice. I think there is room for improvement, particularly in our planning and coordination of infrastructure projects.
Affordability and Fares
Would you commit to maintaining or expanding programs that make transit affordable for low-income Edmontonians?
yes
Transit is for everyone, and access needs to be maintained for all. With access comes the ability for all Edmontonians to contribute to the economy and their community, climb out of poverty, and make their lives better. From a budgetary view, transit operations are largely subsidized anyways, and the return on investment ensuring all Edmontonians have easy access to mobility makes this an easy ‘yes.’
Transit is one of the largest household expenses after housing. What role do you believe the City should play in keeping transit fares affordable, while balancing overall budget pressures?
As above, the City of Edmonton has the clear responsibility to ensure that Edmontonians have mobility options. The more affordable, convenient, and safe we can make transit, the more Edmontonians will choose transit options over other travel options and will in turn save the city dollars in the long term.
Comfort and Cleanliness
Which investments do you believe are most important for making transit feel safe, welcoming, and reliable for all riders?
1- More transit peace officers/security presence
2- Outreach and support teams for vulnerable riders
3- Better lighting and station design
4- Cleaner facilities and vehicles
Outreach and support teams for vulnerable riders, Better lighting and station design
How would you balance spending on transit safety measures (e.g., more officers or attendants) with other city budget priorities?
For transit to be successful, it needs to be safe. The public is investing billions of dollars in LRT expansion in particular but it needs to be and feel safe for it to be successful otherwise taxpayers will not be in favour of further expansion of all transit services—something we need for the city to ensure it meets it’s other goals. I am very much in favour of engineered solutions to our challenges while also working with other levels of government to ensure that those living in crisis are being proactively served and their needs are met. All Edmontonians deserve safety on our transit systems whether that’s passengers, neighbours, workers, or those vulnerable citizens living in crisis.