Proposed OC Transpo fare hike for Canada Day
Posted Apr 17, 2012 04:50:29 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – OC Transpo has proposed a fare increase which could take effect July 1st.
The planned hike would see a 15 per cent increase to adult, fares if passed by the city’s transit commission next week.
Changes will also affect seniors. They would no longer enjoy free rides on Monday and Friday afternoons, but will still be able to ride the bus for free on Wednesdays, and cash fares would drop by 25 per cent.
There are also plans to cut rural express fares and instead only charge regular express fares.
So, how will the fare increase affect your pocket? Under the current system, riders pay $2.60 per trip. As of Canada Day, riders could pay $3.00, a 2.5 per cent hike.
The increase comes at a time when OC Transpo is planning on introducing the new Presto Card. If used along with tickets, adults will only have to pay $2.65.
The proposed increase has some riders angry.
“No reason whatsoever, the level of service is not there to justify the increase at all, so that’s all there is to it,” said one man.
Another rider shared his anger with 1310News, “It’s crazy! It keeps going up and up and they’re asking for more and more money, but I guess I’m gonna have to keep paying it though.”
Meanwhile, this woman has no problem with paying a little more.
“I like the service I get, It’s very good and the prices are still fairly reasonable compared to filling up the gas tank in your car.”
Under the 2012 city budget, riders will pay $174 million in transit fares, and cover 53.3 per cent of OC Transpo’s operating costs.
