TransLink plans to review its transit fare structure for the first time in 30 years, which could potentially see its three-zone system replaced with a flat fare across the region or a distance-based fee.

The review, expected to take two years, comes as TransLink grapples with declining ridership across the system and a forecasted $1.1-million decline in revenue next year as the Compass card takes full effect and the number of cash fares “dramatically drops,” acting CEO Cathy McLay said.

“We want to examine how fare changes can increase ridership,” McLay told the TransLink board Wednesday.

The move would mark TransLink’s first comprehensive look at the complicated three-zone fare structure, which came into effect in 1984 — two years before SkyTrain made its debut at Expo 86. During that time, the fare has remained largely intact, despite a changing demographic and calls from passengers for a simpler fare structure and fair rates, said Tim Savoie, vice-president of transportation planning and policy.

The review, he said, would give TransLink an opportunity to boost ridership, improve customer service and provide wider fare options. A one-zone ticket, for instance, costs $2.75 per trip, while a two-zone is $4 and a three-zone fare — say from Vancouver to Surrey — is $5.50 per trip.

“During this time, customers have changed, travel patterns have changed and choices have changed,” Savoie said.

TransLink plans to talk to passengers and stakeholders in four rounds of public consultation during the review, he said, to ensure it comes up with a fair and reasonable fare structure. The new Compass Card, which is still being rolled out to the public, is also expected to help, by specifically pinpointing where passengers are travelling.

While McLay said it’s too early to say how, or if, the fare structure will change, an array of options are on the table.

“For the first time ever we will have an actual insight into the travel patterns of our customers,” she said. “We will be able to see where they’re tapping on and off and where they’re getting on what bus stops. Every single tap is a data tap.”

TransLink has already seen a 1.1-per-cent boost in its bus ridership after changing all trips to a one-zone fare as part of the Compass rollout. TransLink maintains the data is still preliminary and has yet to see how the changes have affected SkyTrain travel. However, McLay noted TransLink is keeping an eye on the buses to ensure they aren’t filling up and the “pass-ups aren’t excessive.”

Haydn Acheson, president and general manager of Coast Mountain Bus Co., said bus routes, such as the 301 between Surrey and Richmond and the 388 connecting New Westminster and Langley, have experienced an increase in passengers and there are pass-ups. This is partly because the one-zone passes came into effect and also because more buses have been deployed to specific areas to meet demand, he said.

Acheson noted the boost to the buses is likely temporary.

“People are switching to one zone on the buses but it’s adding time to their travel so we think they will switch back but we don’t know. It’s only been a month in,” he said.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com

Twitter:@ksinoski

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