Council approves transit price hike

REGINA – Regina city councillors voted unanimously Monday evening to increase the cost to ride the bus beginning January 1, 2015.

An adult cash fare will go up by 25 cents every year for the next three years. Currently, a ticket costs $2.50 and by 2017 it will be $3.25.

A monthly student pass will jump from $53 to $78 over the next three years and an annual seniors pass will cost an additional $98.

City administration said the price hike is to maintain current service. Fares only cover about 37 per cent of the cost to operate transit but the increase brings the cost recovery up to 45 per cent.

However, transit advocates say riders need improved service to justify the hike.

“You can’t just raise fees you have to increase service as well. Cost recovery will not come out of simply raising fees,” said David Vanderberg with the Regina Green Ride Transit Network. “The bus system has to be something that people want to ride.”

Councillor Shawn Frazer has been a strong proponent for public transit. He said there’s a lot the city is doing well, like maintaining a healthy fleet of buses, but he’s also calling for improvements in service, including having buses run on statutory holidays.

“We’ll be seeing this transportation master plan at council this fall. Also, we’re sort of in the midst of the budget process for next year so I’m still optimistic that this is one piece of a larger puzzle,” said Frazer.

Transit fares haven’t increased since 2010.

Council also approved money to replace six aging buses at the cost of about three million dollars.