There are some changes rolling in for Winnipeg Transit.
In the 2018 city budget, full fares will increase by 25 cents, which means a single trip will cost $2.95.
Those increases come into effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
Monthly adult passes will go up from $90.50 to $100.10 per month.
Seniors will also be hit with a 25 cent increase as their cash rate jumps to $2.45 per trip, up from $2.20. E-cash and ticket rates for seniors will rise by just 12 cents, up to $1.30 from $1.18.
The city is hoping to save $1 million by cutting or reducing service on up to 23 routes in the city beginning in June 2018. Officials didn’t have a list of routes that could be impacted, but said the list will be determined in the next few months.
The city blamed the provincial government for the changes after the province slashed the 50/50 transit funding agreement.
“Elimination of this city-provincial partnership created a $10 million deficit in transit’s operating budget in 2018,” Mayor Brian Bowman said in a statement. “This left us with a significant gap to fill, and something had to give in order for us to balance the budget.”
No cuts to transit operators have been tabled.
The city has committed to spending $28.4 million to buy 40 new buses.
The city said transit fares are among the lowest in the country, even with the increase.
Security on the bus
The budget also proposes an investment of $460,000 for cameras and shelters for bus inspectors, and $717,000 for additional transit security and point duty inspectors.
The security changes come after the 2017 death of transit driver Irvine Jubal Fraser.
Rapid Transit
The city has set aside $350,000 for the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) and the Pembina Highway Underpass payment in 2018.
Over 6 years the city plans to spend $60.95 million on the Southwest Rapid Transitway.