Edmonton transit cash fares could soar to $4 in 2022
Edmonton transit could soon have one of the most expensive cash fares in Canada, as the cost for a single trip is set to increase to $4 in February next year.
Transit fares are decided as part of the city's four-year base operating budget. In 2018, city council decided that fares would climb to $4 by 2022 to cover rising cost pressure like fuel, labour, and power. Other fare products, including monthly bus passes, are set to increase by two per cent.
The adult monthly bus pass price would rank seventh in Canada compared to other transit providers, just behind Vancouver and Winnipeg.
MORE BARRIERS TO TRANSIT
Transit advocate Carter Gorzitza says the fare increases will negatively impact ridership, especially after the bus network redesign changes.
"It'll make ours one of the most expensive transit systems in the country, which is pretty absurd," Gorzitza said.
As a member of Free Transit Edmonton, Gorzitza believes the fare increase will create further barriers to accessing public transit.
"Increasing fares does decrease ridership in the city, which is not something the system needs to be facing right now," Gorzitza added.
The city predicts that transit will earn $13 million less than projected pre-pandemic due to lower ridership levels. City administration says it is not expecting pre-pandemic ridership levels to recover until fall 2022.
"We are still at the tail end of the pandemic," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. "There has been a lot of hardship on Edmontonians. I don't think this is the time to be looking at raising transit fares."
According to the city, a $4 fare would bring in an extra $1.5 million in 2022.
"We have to recognize, it's not going to make us money," said Andrew Knack, Ward Nakota Isga councillor.
TIME TO APPROPRIATELY RESOURCE ETS: KNACK
Knack believes the city should not raise transit fares further until the long-promised smart fare system is fully operational. In his view, the city should increase the overall transit budget to help drive improvements for the system — something he says hasn't happened his entire eight years on council.
"Let's resource it appropriately," Knack added. "Let's not always do it on the backs of those who are potentially in the hardest economic situation."
Currently, the cash fare is $3.50, but the previous city council decided to postpone any price increases for two years in a row due to the pandemic and delays in implementing the Arc Card smart fare system. Council decided to draw funds from city reserves to make up the difference.
The electronic payment system will feature a discounted-single trip fare of $3 to incentivize users to switch from cash. Once brought online, the system would allow transit users to load money onto their online account and use the card to board buses or the LRTs.
As of this fall, post-secondary students are the only users of the Arc Card. The city says it is working towards launching the platform for all adult users throughout 2022 in phases.
Budget deliberations are scheduled to continue at city hall on Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.