(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

COVID-19

P.A. transit passes now $25, system continues to see decreased ridership

Apr 22, 2020 | 12:31 PM

Monthly bus passes in Prince Albert are now available at a flat rate of $25 for all riders.

A month ago, the city announced that all monthly passes purchased in March would continue to be valid in April.

“We wanted to still be able to make passes available to our regular riders,” Transportation and Transit Manager Keri Sapsford told paNOW. “So they’re not paying $2.50 every time they ride, but we didn’t feel like we could continue with the free passes.”

Sapsford explained some people who receive subsidized passes, like Social Services clients, can normally only purchase them at City Hall. With City Hall’s closure, administration decided it would be simpler to allow everyone to purchase passes at a discounted rate at vendor locations around Prince Albert.

Reduced ridership and revenues

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Ridership on city buses continues to be way down. Sapsford reported while normally in April the system would see around 1,500 riders a day, this year that number is sitting around 500.

Ticket and pass sales account for around 40 per cent of Prince Albert’s $1.9 million dollar annual transit budget.

Sapsford said the reduction in ridership due to COVID-19 has led to a significant drop in revenues.

A full report on the financial impacts of the pandemic on the transit system will come to city council in the near future, possibly at Monday’s meeting.

Buses in the city continue to implement protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including maintaining two meters distance between people on the bus.

Where to purchase passes

• Crescent Heights Pharmacy – 2805 6th Ave. E.
• Gray Chemists – 681 – 15th St. W.
• Medical Pharmacy – 1335 Central Avenue
• PBCN Petro Canada – 3451 – 2nd Ave. W.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom