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Many riders, especially seniors, will end up paying significantly more money than expected to take the bus and LRT next year — with the second highest cash fares in the country — if city council approves a suite of new fares.
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is pitching a new set of transit fees to council’s executive committee later this month that would significantly raise many transit fees by the highest rates in more than a decade. The new charges would double the monthly costs for seniors, tie Edmonton for the second-most expensive cash fares in the country, and increase many other fees by more than 20 per cent in February 2025, if approved. These increases are above the rate changes council previously approved for next year, and higher than the fares ETS pitched to council in May. City administrators expect this plan would bring in about $8 million annually to the public transit provider.
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Seniors would be the most impacted: monthly ARC caps would rise to $78 from $36 per month. Youth would pay the same as seniors instead of a slight cut ETS initially recommended to council in May.
Cash fares would rise 75 cents per trip to $4.25 from $3.50, a steep 21 per cent increase. This would tie Edmonton with Mississauga, Ont. for the second-highest cash fare per trip for any public transit operator in Canada, city records show. Cash fares are only higher in Brampton, Ont. at $4.75. About 10 per cent of ETS fare revenues in 2023 were paid in cash, according to the city.
Most riders, however, pay using ARC cards — but those fares would increase too. ETS is suggesting charging 75 cents more per trip to $3.50 from $2.75 — nearly 30 per cent more. Monthly caps for adult riders would also be 20 per cent more — $120 instead of $100.
Council asked the public transit provider to return with a plan to fill the $10 million gap needed to fund low-income passes. ETS is offering up two scenarios.
ETS branch manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald told reporters Friday while ridership is recovering post-COVID-19 pandemic, revenues are still behind, largely because of changes in peoples’ travel patterns and a higher demand for low-income passes.
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“Some transit fares have not changed in several years despite our rising operational costs,” she said. “When assessing the need to increase fares during challenging financial times impacts to riders are carefully considered, and our commitment to providing income-based fare supports for Edmontonians remains.”
It’s also becoming more expensive to operate, she said.
“Our costs for things like fuel parts as well as maintenance — just as a few examples — have significantly increased. Higher expenses plus lower revenues creates a budget scenario that’s going to require some very careful, thoughtful decisions,” she said. “These pressures are affecting the transit sector right across Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, as well as Ottawa. Transit is a core service delivered by the city of Edmonton.”
While she expects this plan would draw in about $8 million more, ETS is projecting a $13-million deficit for this year.
ETS looked at changing the criteria for the low-income passes but found this would either mean losing funding, or harming groups that are already marginalized.
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“Changes to the criteria could impact the provincial funding grant that we have for the program, as well as reduce transit affordability for riders who may represent some equity-seeking communities,” she said. “So that could further marginalize these riders if they were excluded from the program and could no longer access transit.”
During the presentation, she pointed out that monthly passes are currently more expensive in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and the Vancouver region, and cash fares are higher in most comparative cities.
Council’s executive committee is set to discuss this plan, and one other scenario, on Aug. 28.
lboothby@postmedia.com
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