It’s budget time at the City of Brampton and the city just released over 300 pages worth of documents outlining the city’s financial plans. One such plan could see an increase in Brampton Transit fares in 2018.

A line item in budget documents reveals a potential increase to fares in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Currently riders pay an adult cash fare of $3.75 or a $2.95 fare when using PRESTO.

It should be noted that an transit fare increase was also listed in the 2017 budget plans, and Brampton Transit increased PRESTO fares for adult and seniors in March.

A report released on November 24 confirms that there will be both a fare increase and a fare reduction in 2018.

On March 5, cash fares will rise from $3.75 to $4.00, making Brampton Transit’s flat fare tied for highest with York Region Transit. However, many Metrolinx reports have reported that Brampton Transit has the second highest amount of users paying for their fares with PRESTO, at an 80 per cent adoption rate.

Adult PRESTO fares will rise by five cents to $3.00. Weekly passes will rise by 50 cents to $33.00, and monthly passes will increase by two dollars to $124.00.

Youth (13-19) PRESTO fares will also rise by five cents to $2.55. Youth weekly passes will rise by 50 cents to $27.50, and youth monthly passes will increase by two dollars to $170.00.

However, starting with the September 2018 school year, child (6-12) PRESTO fares will drop by 50 cents to $2.00, to match with other GTHA transit fares. Child weekly passes will drop to $22 and child monthly passes will go down to $84 from $105.

With Brampton’s growth as one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and with its growing ridership on transit routes, it wouldn’t come as a surprise for there to be an increase because more ridership means more expenses.

In this year’s budget Brampton Transit is taking a 12 per cent chunk, which will go primarily towards operations and purchasing new buses.

Brampton Transit has seen significant improvements over the past few years, including the very successful Züm rapid transit program, which is still expanding. Next year a new Züm line will launch on Airport Road.

Feature Image – Bryan McGowan

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