Let the penny-pinching begin.
A report was given to the Regional Municipality of York by the acting commissioner of transportation and community planning recommending a fair increase for York Region Transit in January 2014.
The proposed increase is in response to increased operating fees that YRT has been faced with as a result of increased ridership, which has gone up by 20 per cent over the last five years.
YRT has declined to comment on the potential increase, stating they can’t release any information as a final decision still has not been made.
The meeting, which will decide whether YRT increases its fares, will be held on September 13 in Newmarket by the Committee of the Whole for York Region.
If the Regional Council of York votes in favour of the increase, YRT will increase their VIVA one-zone cash fares by $0.25 to $4. Adult tickets will be $3.30 which is an increase of $0.30. Adult monthly passes will be $120, which is an increase of $12.
According to the report, this increase will help YRT balance its revenue-to-cost recovery ratio, with the current split being 40/60. YRT is aiming to make this ratio 50/50.
If this decision is passed, YRT base transit fare will be the highest in the entire Greater Toronto Area, aside from GO Transit, which uses a fare-by-distance measures.
Hamid Adem
News Editor
