It’s that time of year again when TransLink considers future annual fare increases for public transit services across Metro Vancouver.
TransLink’s board of directors is expected to give final approval at a public meeting next week to implement the 2024 fare increases, which will take effect on Canada Day, July 1.
The 2024 fare change will be an overall average 2.3% increase, making it the final year of the 2.3% annual fare increase for the fourth consecutive year since 2021. This cap on fare increases of 2.3% per year until 2024 was in exchange for Translink receiving extensive emergency service. The federal and state governments provided subsidies during the peak of the pandemic.
There were no fare increases in 2020 due to the pandemic, and fares were free from mid-March 2020 to early June 2020.
Proposed increases from 2025 to 2033
In addition to the certainty of fare increases in 2024, TransLink also provides updates on potential future fare increases from 2025 to 2033.
Currently, TransLink is proposing an average fare increase of 4% in 2025 and 3% in 2026. However, average annual fare increases will remain at 2% each year from 2027 to 2033.
In real dollar terms, based on payments made using Compass Card stored value, which offers a discount over cash fares, single-zone adult fares on traditional services (Bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain) will be $2.70 by 2025; That means it could reach $2.90. $3.15 by 2028 and 2033.
Two-zone adult fares will increase to $4.00 in 2025, $4.30 in 2028, and $4.80 in 2033, and three-zone adult fares will increase to $5.10 in 2025, $5.45 in 2028, and $5.95 in 2033. will be raised to.
An adult day pass with unlimited travel across all zones will cost $11.95 in 2025, $12.80 in 2028, and $14.10 in 2033.
An adult 1-zone monthly pass will increase in price to $111.60 in 2025, $119.60 in 2028, and $132.10 in 2033, and a 2-zone adult monthly pass will increase in price to $149.25 in 2025, $160.00 in 2028, and $132.10 in 2033. It is expected to reach $176.65. -The Zone adult monthly pass increases to $201.55 in 2025, $216.00 in 2028, and $238.50 in 2033.
A complete table of annual fare increases from 2024 to 2033 can be found at the end of this article.
TransLink’s fare hikes are based on increased costs due to continued high inflation and structural revenue, with a cumulative funding shortfall of more than $4.7 billion from 2026 to 2033, starting with approximately $600 million in 2026. Focus on scarcity. This will start after 2025. That’s when the state government’s latest operating grant runs out, and doesn’t take into account major service expansions or new projects.
The maximum average fare increases of 2.3% allowed by the federal and state governments between 2021 and 2024 were well below the inflation levels experienced during this period. Fares are TransLink’s single largest source of revenue, followed by gas taxes and public transit property taxes.
TransLink’s service levels are currently frozen at 2019 service levels as fares and gas tax revenues continue to decline. Although overall ridership has recovered to more than 90% of pre-pandemic levels, the recovery in fare revenue continues to be slow as passengers travel less frequently and use single fares rather than monthly passes. Similarly, gasoline tax revenues are decreasing due to the increased adoption of battery electric vehicles and continued improvements in fuel efficiency.
Prior to the pandemic, Translink increased fares by an average of 4.6% in 2020, 4.1% in 2021, and 2022-2022 as one of the means to fund new and improved services. The plan was to increase fares by an average of 3% per year until then. 2024.
Public transport is now aiming to catch up with previously planned rate increases, but at the same time “needs to strike a balance between ensuring transport is adequately funded while maintaining affordability.” ” He also admits that.
However, these annual fare increases over the next 10 years assume that TransLink maintains its long-standing three-zone fare system for its traditional service and does not move to a distance-based fare system. After much public consultation, the SkyTrain and SeaBus long-distance travel fare system strategy was approved by TransLink before the pandemic, but its implementation has been delayed by the need for significant technology upgrades to the Compass fare payment system. I did.
The technology Compass uses is considered outdated, considering it was created in the 2000s. Processing and security technology has changed significantly, and fare collection processes have also improved. Similarly, many ticket gates, especially at high-traffic stations, are starting to show signs of age due to heavy use. TransLink is currently evaluating more than $200 million in upgrades to its Compass technology and turnstile infrastructure.
Fares increase in 2024
For the 2024 fare increases scheduled for July 1, single-zone adult fares paid through Compass Card stored value will increase by 5 cents to $2.60.
Two-zone adult rates will increase by 10 cents to $3.85, and three-zone adult rates will increase by 5 cents to $4.90.
For adult monthly passes, the 1-zone pass will increase by $2.40 to $107.30, the 2-zone pass will increase by $3.25 to $143.50, and the 3-zone pass will increase by $4.35 to $193.80.
For discounted fares (youth and senior) paid through Compass card stored value, these fares increase by 5 cents to $2.15 in 1 zone, 5 cents to $3.15 in 2 zones, and 10 cents to $4.35 in 3 zones. It will be dollars.
A discounted monthly pass for all zones will cost $61.35, an increase of $1.40.
Day passes will increase 25 cents to $11.25 for adults and 20 cents to $8.85 for concessions.
Another one-way adult fare on the West Coast Express commuter rail service included in the Compass Card’s stored value is $5.30 for the shortest 1/2 zone trip between downtown Vancouver and the Mission, up to $11.50 for all 5 zone distances. It becomes. . For the same zone type, commuter rail adult monthly passes range from $173.85 to $375.40.
Here’s a complete breakdown of all planned annual fare increases from 2024 to 2033:
