There has been some unnecessary confusion about the proposed increase in transit fares.

There are six different transit fares:

Cash – adult, high school, senior

Tickets – adult, high school, senior

Passes – adult, high school, senior

A fare increase will impact them all differently or not at all.

The size of any fare increase during EVERY BUDGET is reflected in terms of the impact on the base fare which is the adult ticket. The adult ticket is being proposed by staff to increase by 10 cents.

Cash fares represent less than 10% of the fares collected. Why? Because tickets and passes are cheaper.

Fares only cover approximately 43% of the cost of providing transit service to the community.

Here are the facts – I will let you do the math on the price of an individual ticket. Now lets discuss the actual issue – the merits of a transit fare increase.

Year 2010 2011 (P) Cash Adult $2.75 $3.00 High School $2.75 $3.00 Senior $2.75 $3.00 Tickets Adult – 10 $23.00 $24.00 High School – 10 $18.50 $19.50 Senior – 10 $19.50 $19.50 Passes Adult $72.00 $75.00 High School $62.00 $65.00 Senior $60.00 $60.00