TRANSIT fares will be on the rise again next year if a proposal tabled by TransLink last month gets approved.
The transit authority is calling for a 25-cent increase for onezone tickets and a 50-cent increase for two-and three-zone tickets. If approved, this would be the first cash fare hike in five years.
The cost of FareSaver books will also go up. One-zone books would rise from $21 to $23.50, two-zone books to from $31.50 to $35.50, and three-zone books will jump by $5 to $47, according to the proposal.
Since some of the proposed increases average out to more than two per cent per year, TransLink will need to get approval from the transit commission.
It's possible the hikes will be needed to prevent service cuts, but the commission is looking into whether TransLink could find other ways to save money, said Regional Transportation Commissioner Martin Crilly in a press release.
"Is it reasonable to expect TransLink to manage without some or all the fare increases it seeks, without making cutbacks in planned services?" he said. "We are probing for evidence that TransLink could save money by operating more efficiently, and we especially welcome input in that respect."
The commission is inviting input from the public. Metro Vancouver residents have until Feb. 15 to weigh in. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].
A decision is expected by Mar. 27.
