Article content

Painful, but necessary.

London Transit commissioners said Wednesday night there’s no getting around a fare hike – nearly 20 per cent on all of the different tickets and passes riders can use to take the bus – unanimously approving the boost.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or LTC fares going up almost 20% in January Back to video

Fares will go up beginning Jan. 1.

“Three dollars a ride, despite the fact that there’s an increase, is still incredibly competitive when you look at ride-sharing or other (options),” commissioner Tanya Park said Wednesday.

Cash fares will go up to $3 for adults and tickets will cost $2.25 each in a bundle of five. An unlimited pass will rise to $95 a month and even the low-income pass will jump to $61.

“The people coming from GTA and Toronto area know that we are (still) cheaper than them,” commissioner Tariq Khan said.

“It’s never nice, but it has to happen,” said Coun. Phil Squire, who also sits on the transit commission.

And with the London Transit Commission (LTC) asking city hall for about 20 per cent more cash to square up its 2020 operating budget, Squire said the agency has to seek revenue elsewhere to make the request even remotely politically palatable.