Ridership is up three per cent but Transit Windsor is still not providing the level of service it needs to, according to the service's own board of directors and management.

It held a strategic planning session on the weekend to discuss the matter.

Transit Windsor is having a hard time keeping its buses on schedule. One reason is construction detours.

However, director of operations Pat Delmore says it's not the only factor. He noted people with disabilities, parents with strollers and those who use bike racks on the buses also slow service down.

Transit Windsor's director of operations Pat Delmore said several things are slowing down bus service.

"All those things are taking time," Delmore said.

The transit board wants city council to spend more money to make improvements on two of the bus company's busiest routes.

Councillor Bill Marra chairs the board. He hopes to present transit's master plan to council.

Before we make any asks of council, we need to careful not to do things in an ad hoc way," Marra said. "It's important that the transit master plan be presented to city council."

The transit board also wants money directed to improving the intelligent transportation system, including an automatic vehicle location program, which can be used by riders to find out when their buses will arrive to pick them up.

Despite the challenges, ridership has climbed nearly three per cent this year.

Marra only imagines what would happen if the service improved.

"We want to see more money invested in capital, want to see more buses. We have about 25 per cent of our fleet is over 20 years of age, and that is clearly unacceptable," he said. "We're looking forward to increasing on the operating side so we can improve some of the routes to deal with the demand."

Tranist Windsor costs taxpayers $12 million a year to provide the service. The transit board wants city council to spend more money to make improvements on two of the bus company's busiest routes.