Starting January, Calgary transit riders will need to pay $4 for a single-ride ticket, a fare that remains higher compared to other major cities such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Toronto. The current fare of $3.80 is on the higher end and will be surpassed by only a few regions once the city council’s approved increase takes effect.
Monthly bus passes will also see an increase to $126 from $118. In this aspect, Calgary ranks below some other major cities where a monthly bus pass costs $156 in Toronto.
Alex Williams, chair of advocacy group Calgary Transit Riders, expressed frustration with the fare hike, stating it can impact budgeting for the month, time, and energy. Allan Thacker, a regular transit user in the city, already found fares to be expensive and believes the increase will significantly raise costs over time.
Mayor of Calgary, Jeromy Farkas, opposed the fare hike, acknowledging the dissatisfaction of many residents with the current level of service provided by the transit system. Council members, including Ward 9 Coun. Harrison Clark, also expressed discontent with the fare increase, especially following efforts to lower property taxes for homeowners.
Both Clark and Farkas emphasized the importance of seeing a return on investment from the increased revenues, with a focus on improving transit service and safety. The council approved $6 million for enhancing transit service and an additional $9 million for safety improvements, addressing growing concerns about violence onboard transit.
Calgary’s urban sprawl presents challenges in funding transit compared to other cities, according to Williams. Calgary Transit’s Route Ahead blueprint aims to provide service every 10 minutes, 15 hours a day, seven days a week across the primary network, but current funding falls short of these goals.
The city is discontinuing express routes transporting passengers to and from downtown during peak hours over the next two years. This includes the phasing out of eight express buses to optimize resource efficiency. The decision has sparked petitions and concerns among transit riders about extended commutes and essential transit services being affected.
In conclusion, the focus remains on balancing service improvements across the city with limited funds available, emphasizing the necessity of transit for residents and the ongoing efforts to enhance the overall transit experience in Calgary.