By Kevin Martel

Regina city council approves bus fare increase

Sep 23, 2014 | 8:25 AM

In a matter of months, those who ride the bus in Regina will be paying more.

City council voted unanimously in favour of raising fares for the first time since 2010 at Monday night’s council meeting. New rates take effect Jan. 1, 2015.

Most basic fares will go up 25 cents each year over the next three years. Some monthly passes are going up as well. Post-secondary and adult passes will go up by $25 and $30 dollars by 2017, respectively.

Annual senior passes will be among the biggest increase, going up about $100 in three years.

Gertie Schmidt was shocked when she saw the figures while she waited for her bus as she does most days at 12th Avenue and McIntyre Street.

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“No, I wouldn’t be in favour of that much. I can see a little,” the senior said when showed the yearly senior pass jump from $202 now to $300 in 2017. “That’s too much.”

At the University of Regina, student union president Devon Peters understands many students won’t be thrilled with having to pay more.

“I don’t think they’ll be very happy about it,” he said.

However, Peters and fellow U of R student David Vanderberg support the fare increases.

Vanderberg said the extra money has to be used correctly.

“All of this money generated from this increase in fares has to go back into transit,” he said.

During the council meeting city administration reported how ridership has increased 12 per cent over the last two years while another nine per cent bump is anticipated for this year.

Administration also explained fares need to increase in order to simply maintain the current level of service as costs have increased over the last four years. A total of 43 new buses have joined the fleet since 2010, all low floor and all air-conditioned. Cameras and GPS systems have been added to buses. As well, service is being offered to new areas, such as Harbour Landing.

Coun. Shawn Fraser is an advocate of transit use, having recently participated in his Transit Week Challenge for the second year in a row. He left his vehicle at home and took the bus trying to identify areas of improvement.

He supported the fare increase Monday night.

“It’s really the state of our system that’s holding a lot of people back versus the cost of our system.”

“Ultimately we need to invest in our system, partly through fare increases, partly through council stepping up to put general funds back in the system,” he said. “Everyone benefits from that. It’s not just about attracting new riders but offering more consistent, better service for those people that already rely on the bus.”

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