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(Posted
11:30 a.m., Nov. 28)
OC Transpo unveils proposed fare increases for 2016
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
OC
Transpo riders can expect to pay more for bus service
next year if a series of proposed fare increases unveiled
on Friday are passed by city council.
The
only exception will be community pass holders who will
be spared an increase under the proposed changes.
Presto
cardholders who use regular non-express routes will see
the biggest hike. The cost per trip will go up 5.6 per
cent from $2.86 to $3.00. By comparison, non-express cash
fares will jump 10 cents from $3.55 per trip to $3.65.
Presto
cardholders will only see a nominal increase on express
routes where the fare will be increased from $4.28 to
$4.39 per trip.
The
cost of a regular adult pass will go up $2.50 to $105.75,
while the cost of a monthly express pass willl jump from
$127.25 to $130.50.
Student
riders under the age of 19 and seniors will also see a
modest increase in the cost of their bus pass. A regular
student monthly pass will jump $2 to $84.25, and senior
passes will increase from $41.75 to $42.75.
The
cost of a U-Pass, which all post-secondary students pay
for as part of their student fees, will go up 2.5 per
cent from $192.70 to $197.52.
As
stated earlier, the cost of an OC Transpo community pass
will remain frozen at $41.75 next year. The pass is available
to customers on the Ontario Disability Support Program
and registered Para Transpo customers.
The
proposed increaes were made public by Ottawa Transit Commission
chair, Cumberland Coun. Stephen Blais, who is supportive
of the changes.
"In
a very equitable way, we distributed the increase across
classes," Blais says.
The
changes are expected to be endorsed by the Transit Commission
next week and then include in the draft budget which will
be up for final consideration on Dec. 9. If approved the
fare hikes would come into effect on July 1.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support
of our local business partners.)
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