TransLink plans to increase fare, locals unhappy
“Great that is all we need, I just gave up my car because of the fuel prices going through the roof and now they are going to raise transit tickets…I am not happy at all,” said Delta office worker Puneet Samra.
The 27 –year –old who commutes from Delta to Vancouver via Skytrain is amongst local Surrey residents who have to commute via bus and transit to work or school. Many are not pleased with TransLinks application to raise transit fares an average of 12.5 per cent in January 2013.
The last all round fare increase was in 2008, while a 2010 hike for monthly pass and FareSavers kept cash fares unchanged. If the hike is approved, cash fares would rise 25 to 50 cents to between $2.75 for one zone and $5.50 for three zones. Monthly passes would cost $91 for one zone (up $10); $124 for or two-zones (up $14); or $170 for three zones (up $19.)
Book of 10 pre-paid one-zone FareSaver tickets would rise $2.50 to $23.50, while a three-zone book would climb $5 to $47. In addition concession fares would also go up. Speaking at King George Skytrain station Michelle Rai a student who was going to her part time job in Metrotown told the Voice, “This is not good with the price of everything going up and this is not what we need at the moment for people who have to take transit every day…wages are not going up to keep pace with the increases.”
Translink said the fare increases would generate an extra $48 million in 2013 to help fund transit expansion plans passed last year. However TransLink Commissioner Martin Crilly, TransLink’s independent regulator, has the power to veto the fare hike.
The commissioner is calling for the public to comment on the proposed increase by emailing comments@translinkcommission.org by Feb. 15. TransLink says it hasn’t decided what measures or service cuts it would impose if the fare increase isn’t approved. Measure could include reducing bus services.
Crilly must make a ruling on the fare hike by March 27. Meanwhile a 2% extra tax on fuel will come into gear in April 2013.
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Short URL: http://www.voiceonline.com/?p=6603
Posted by admin
on Jan 13 2012. Filed under British Columbia, Top Stories.
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i’m against the raise of the fare… i’ve only had to use the transit twice once for the snow and once to catch the translink to make it to the airport and both times it had broken down .
the people that depend on the metro are poor average people , problably work for minimum wage, or students and elderly people…