Is Hamilton ready to provide free transit to residents? Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla thinks so.

Mr. Merulla authored a motion last week which was accepted by his council colleagues that asked city staff to investigate implementing a free fare or a small fee only public transit service.

Mr. Merulla was the lone politician who opposed council's recent decision to increase bus fares for the second time in less than a year.

"God bless Sam," said Hamilton Mountain councillor Terry Whitehead. "This is a vision. I think you will see free transit in Hamilton. It makes a lot of sense to reduce gridlock and improve the environment."

Mr. Merulla pointed out reducing bus fares encourages more people to get out of their vehicles, which, in turn, cuts pollution and overall improves the environment.

Cities in Europe have already adopted the idea, said Mr. Merulla, and some U.S. cities have also had success offering free public transit. He mentioned New York City, Seattle, and Portland.

Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson retorted, "Hamilton is a long way from being Manhattan. Hamilton has more pressing issues to deal with."

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said a review of what other municipalities are doing would be "helpful" to councillors.

"We can learn some things," he said. "Maybe we can offer (free transit) during smog days."

Free transit has been somewhat of a success in Seattle's downtown core and in parts of Portland.

And while San Francisco is studying the issue, for the most part U.S. cities, such as Austin, Texas, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, for instance, that have tried free fares have already abandoned the idea.

Austin bus drivers launched a campaign to get the municipality to reinstall fare boxes after the destruction youths did on their buses when public transit became free. Vandalism also contributed to Miami and Fort Lauderdale deciding to return to fare boxes.

Earlier this month Hamilton councillors raised the cash amount for bus fares from $2.25 to $2.40, and both the adult and ticket fares jumped by 10 cent.

It's projected the city will reap additional revenue of about $1.8 million when the fares take effect Jan. 1, 2008. Some councillors questioned why the issue was even being debated after they had a few weeks earlier engaged in one of council's more volatile debates.

"We are just asking staff to write report after report," said Flamborough Councillor Margaret McCarthy. "It's nonsensical."

Public works staff will review other municipalities that have tried offering free fares to residents.