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Edmonton Transit’s 2018 budget anticipates $120 million in revenue from transit fares. Total expenses are $355 million.

But a 2016 study of the transit subsidy found total annual benefits from transit system are much higher. It found $700 million annually in reduced congestion, reduced collisions, decreased parking requirements and environmental impacts.

Just think of security, said Paquette, saying bus drivers would no longer need to be the gatekeepers and fare collectors for the system. Paris is now looking at this, he said. At its basic, “increased mobility equals increased economic development, increased security and increased health.”

“That’s all I’m saying. Let’s consider this, see if the numbers add up,” he said.

Mixed reviews from residents

When news of Paquette’s motion hit social media, reaction was mixed. Many were worried about the increase to property taxes and said it’s unfair for people who will never use transit to subsidize those who do. But others said taxpayers already pay the full cost to build roads — property owners pay for roads whether they walk two blocks to work or drive daily for two hours.

“I thought council said they were trying to reduce tax increases, not come up with new ways to increase taxes even more,” said Tyler Zutz, who jumped in on Facebook.

But this could reduce congestion; the price of the bus is a barrier today, said Chris Hubick, who supported the idea on Twitter.

It costs $12 for him and his partner to take the LRT from their downtown home to Southgate Centre to go shopping, where there’s free parking. So they always drive, he said. But that feeds the constant need to upgrade roads. “Bigger cities have learned this just doesn’t scale. Whatever you build, it will be full of cars.”