Health unit advises city not to raise transit fees, calls transportation a ‘social determinant of health’

Windsor’s health unit is calling for transit fees to stay the same, after council proposed raising them to $4.

Health officials in Windsor-Essex are urging city council not to increase transit fares, arguing that higher transportation costs could worsen health inequities for low-income residents.

In a written submission tied to the city’s 2026 proposed budget, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit frames transportation as a ‘social determinant of health’, saying affordability plays a role in residents’ ability to meet basic needs.

“From a public health perspective, even modest increases in transportation costs can have meaningful impacts for people living on low incomes,” the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit wrote.

City council heard public delegations on the proposed 2026 budget at a special meeting Monday, running from 10 a.m. and extending well into the afternoon.

The proposed 2026 budget calls for a fare increase for Transit Windsor from $3.75 to $4 as part of the city’s effort to hold the tax levy at zero per cent.

The health unit flagged a proposed eight per cent increase to the Affordable Pass Program (APP), which is available to residents whose income falls at or below the Market Basket Measure threshold.

The Market Basket Measure sets the poverty line by calculating how much it costs a typical family of four to pay for everyday essentials — such as groceries, clothing, housing, transportation, and other basic needs — at a modest standard of living.

“Transportation affordability is closely linked to access to employment, education, healthcare, and food,” the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit stated, warning raised transit costs risk “creating barriers to food access, further exacerbating existing health disparities.”

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit also pointed to existing pressures faced by low-income households across the region.

“Budget decisions that increase costs for essential services can have a disproportionate impact on residents already facing barriers to health and well-being,” the health unit said.

Concerns about transit affordability were echoed by community organizations participating in the city’s budget consultation process.

In a joint written submission, co-chairs of United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent and ProsperUs Community Action Network working groups raised concerns about the cumulative effect of higher user fees.

“We are worried about the combined impact of higher recreation and transit user fees,” the joint submission reads.

“When fees go up but subsidies do not, families like ours are forced to make hard choices.”

The working groups said higher transit costs could force riders to limit how often they use the system.

“Transit users may have to cut back on essential trips,” the groups wrote.

United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent also weighed in.

“As fees rise without corresponding increases to subsidies for lower income households, their access is reduced,” United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent wrote.

Individual residents submitted similar concerns, pointing to the impact of rising fares alongside service changes.

One parent questioned a proposed increase in the cost of a monthly bus pass.

“If we are talking about the budget, how does it make sense to increase the monthly bus pass from $81 to $90 and cancel school bus extras that were taking these students to school safely and on time?” wrote Zdravka Ostojic.

The $81 figure reflects the current price of a 30-day bus pass for youth between the ages of 13 and 19.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit argued that keeping transit affordable can help reduce downstream pressures on health and social systems.

“Public health principles support sustained investment in poverty reduction, affordable transportation, and neighbourhood-level programming,” the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit wrote.

“These protective measures advance population health, health equity, and reduce longer-term pressures on health care and other social services.”