The city's bus drivers have voted to accept a new deal that includes a seven per cent wage hike over four years.

HSR workers voted 86 per cent in favour - although about a third of the almost 700 union members didn't cast a ballot.

A better commitment to "safe and reasonable" scheduling combined with new city funding for transit helped seal the agreement reached under threat of a strike a week ago, said Eric Tuck, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107.

Now it's time for the province to "pony up on its election promises" to fund light rail transit, Tuck added in a release, adding the investment is "critical" to the city's economic and transportation future.

The provincial budget will be released April 23.

The city's biggest union, 3,400-strong CUPE 5167, is expected to hold a strike vote on Friday, although negotiations continue. Three other city unions are also waiting to bargain new contracts this year.