Transit commission approves 2021 draft budget, fare hike of 2.5 per cent

OC Transpo fares are set to go up in the new year.

At its meeting on Wednesday, November 18, the transit commission approved the OC Transpo 2021 Draft Budget, which would see a fare increase of 2.5 per cent. 

While the draft budget keeps with council's long-standing policy of an annual two and a half per cent increase to transit fares, it faced some opposition. 

Citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert told the transit commission that raising fares would impact people on the frontlines of the pandemic, like grocery store and pharmacy staff, as well as hospital workers.

“While they may not qualify for one of the lower fare passes, let's not kid ourselves friends — they are still in the lower income bracket,” Sarah told the transit commission. “A fare increase disproportionately affects them.”

The draft budget includes:

• Freezing EquiPass fares and the Community Pass at 2019 levels.
• A 2.5 per cent fare increase effective January 1, 2021, except for low-income customers and those who are Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients
• Because of the 2020 fare freeze, there is a budget pressure of $5.1 million in 2021 that will be funded from Transit reserves
• Costs of the 2020 fare increase deferral have been included in the RTG claim
• No service expansion on all modes of transit 
• Discretionary spending pause continues in 2021

The transit commission voted in favour of the draft budget, which now goes to city council for a final vote on Wednesday, December 9.