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TransLink fares are going up July 1 (www.cbc.ca)

submitted 7 months ago by TSG_Asmodeus@lemmy.world to c/britishcolumbia@lemmy.ca

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Transit fares for TransLink users will go up about 2.3 per cent this summer.

On July 1, single-zone fares will increase five cents, from $3.15 to $3.20. Two-zone fares will increase by 10 cents, to $4.65 and three-zone fares will go up 15 cents, up to $6.35.

Daypasses, discounted tickets and monthly passes will also face slight increases.

Transit fares in Metro Vancouver last increased in July, another 2.3 per cent hike.

Spokesperson Tina Lovgreen says TransLink is in a "financial crisis," and looking at a shortfall of about $600 million annually starting in 2026.

She said the transit system is facing "critical overcrowding," which revenue from the fare increases will help address.

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[–] TheRaven@lemmy.ca 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

It shouldn’t be run as a business. It should be run as a service. Who cares if there’s a shortfall. That’s the cost of ensuring citizens have cheap, efficient, reliable, green ways of commuting.

In my opinion, the cost of facing overcrowding shouldn’t be coming from fares at all. If you have a better way for people in a city to commute, why charge people who are using that better way more? That just dissuades them from using it.

Tax 101: Tax the people who are choosing unhealthy options, and use the tax to pay for healthy options.

[–] chiisana@lemmy.chiisana.net 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I’m with you on this, but anyone who remotely uses transit will hear an earful from those that “prefers to drive” — source: 10 years of undergrad and grad, hearing kids who drive complain about mandatory UPass.

[–] TheRaven@lemmy.ca 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

That’s fine. They can drive. I like driving too. But we should tax that behaviour more and use it to pay for an even better transit system.

[–] chiisana@lemmy.chiisana.net 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Oh I hear you. Not saying they shouldn’t pay. If anything, they should pay even more for putting extra strain on the public infrastructure. Just pointing out that a vocal minority of people feel entitled and that just because they prefer to drive that they shouldn’t need to pay, and they will be very vocal of such tax.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

Mind you downtown parking does have a tax that goes to transit. And a small electricity levy that goes to transit.

Maybe they should make all bridges into the city tolled.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely, public transit is a benefit to people, businesses and the environment. We should make it as affordable as possible (and ideally remove the zone surcharges since generally people who live further from downtown make less money)

[–] TSG_Asmodeus@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I still don't understand the logic behind "So you can't afford to live near downtown? How about you pay twice what someone who can afford to live downtown pays for transit."

[–] SamuelRJankis@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Spokesperson Tina Lovgreen says TransLink is in a "financial crisis," and looking at a shortfall of about $600 million annually starting in 2026.

She said the transit system is facing "critical overcrowding," which revenue from the fare increases will help address.

Seems like a good reason for the government to increase funding.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

It's like we didn't learn from the user-fee drop during COVID and how that (and a minor ransomware attack) all but gutted the service.

But I also vehemently disagree with using public money for private profit, like every other Public/Private/Partnership already does (see:BCFerries). Make it public and free to use; or private and 100% user-fee supported so it has no tax teat, it can go bankrupt and THEN be public and free to use.