'Something needs to be done':Transit Windsor rider gets support on both sides of border as petition to save tunnel bus nears 3000 signatures

Tunnel Bus rider in Windsor, Ont., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)

A Windsor resident who created a petition in an effort to save the tunnel bus from being eliminated is gathering support on both sides of the Windsor/Detroit border.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens tabled the 2025 budget last week, and revealed during its unveiling that the tunnel bus service was at risk of being eliminated.

"It's ridiculous," said lifelong Windsor resident Stephanie Thompson, who told CTV News she's been using the tunnel bus for 40 years, and depends on the service as a disabled person to see her family and loved ones Detroit.

"Everybody doesn't drive. I'm a person with a disability. I need the support of my family, my American family and friends," Thompson said.

Thompson said she spent Thursday and part of Friday in Detroit gathering signatures of support, as the online petition garners over 2,800 names at the time of this publication.

Thompson said she had exchanged emails with officials at Illitch holdings in Detroit, along with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Detroit City Council.

"I got about 500 to 1000 signatures just yesterday being over there," she explained. "I'm hoping that they'll spread it through and everybody will share it.”

The tunnel bus resumed service following the COVID-19 pandemic in Nov. 2022, with reduced hours.

Thompson said the reduction in service hours affected her.

"I can't afford to pay the 60 plus dollars it cost to travel in a cab. And I can't afford, even if there was Uber or Lyft, I couldn't afford to pay that and they unfortunately don't cross the border on both sides."

The first council meeting of the year on Jan. 13 will give residents the opportunity to appear as delegates and offer feedback on the draft budget.

Thompson says she is registered to appear and will not only deliver her petition to council at that time, but will also deliver the message that the Windsor tunnel bus is essential.

"Something needs to be done," she stated. "I hate to say it. I think the money that was spent on the new ice rink in front of City Hall, $200,000 of that, could have went to the tunnel bus system."

Thompson added, "There's naysayers out there too. Some people don't want to pay the extra taxes. You know what I'm saying? Some people are saying, well, what about the people from the county? I don't know what to say about that. All I need to say is it's been here, keep it here. It's a staple. Why would you take away something that supports our local economy?"

The petition can be accessed by clicking here.