TransLink commissioner rejects 12.5 percent fare hike for 2013

by Stephen Thomson on Apr 11, 2012 at 9:52 am
Comments
The price of prepaid ticket books will stay the same for 2013 but cash fares can still increase by up to 10 percent.
Stephen Thomson

TransLink’s independent regulator has rejected a proposal from the transit authority for a supplementary fare increase of 12.5 percent for 2013.

TransLink commissioner Martin Crilly announced the decision during a news conference today (April 11) in Vancouver.

With the decision, the price of prepaid ticket books will stay the same but cash fares can still increase by up to 10 percent.

For example, adult one-zone cash fares can rise by 25 cents to $2.75 and adult two-zone cash fares can go up by 35 cents to $4.10.

Under provincial law, TransLink is allowed to hike fares in line with a basic increase of two percent per year.

The cost of prepaid ticket books and monthly passes was last increased in April 2010 but TransLink has not hiked cash fares since January 2008.

The TransLink commission does not regulate the cost of monthly FareCards.

The decision to reject the fare hike comes after the commission conducted a review of the efficiency of TransLink operations.

It found management and service is good but there are financial pressures from an abundance of equipment and staff.

The commission has challenged TransLink to find $40 to $60 million in savings over the next three years.

It recommends measures like cutting administration costs, budgeting less conservatively, and reviewing the community shuttle service.

“While we could have approved the application and simply exhorted TransLink to follow up the findings of the efficiency review, we thought that that would be the wrong decision and the wrong message,” commissioner Crilly told reporters.

“We found it vital to reinforce the importance of cost saving in our decision and we deliberately are increasing the financial pressure on TransLink and thereby encouraging them to minimize its costs,” he said.

TransLink’s board says it will review the commissioner’s recommendations and take on the challenge to find further cost savings.

“The commissioner confirmed we are well run and manage costs and that a fare increase is not unreasonable, but reduces our proposed increase at this time. We need time to review this information,” TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis said in a statement.

The TransLink board has also requested that the provincial government conduct an audit of the transit authority. The move follows a call from Premier Christy Clark for an audit.

Comments (10) Add New Comment
Fairness
Apr 11, 2012 at 10:20 am
I am not opposed to a fair increase, however, I am opposed to Translink thinking they are going to pay ICBC or whomever to help collect old tickets, oh please, why does any other entity need to even get involved? Instead of worrying about what you have done wrong, move forward and FIX the problem at hand, which seems to be riders that don't pay... so, put in the turnstiles, OR no ticket no ride, if you are found without a ticket, get off the train and buy one! Put a scan bar on the ticket or scan number, and you scan your ticket. I am not opposed to the raise in fares, but if your going to raise the fare, then lets get rid of this one two or 3 zones, one ticket and its good all day or at least 12 hours, ie: 7:30 to 7:30, and then you purchase one for the night....and you can go anywhere on the bus, kind of like a bus pass, or day pass, but one fee ONLY! One fee for for all, a bottom is a bottom whether its a student or adult, we all take up a seat....so babies that are carried,ride free, and seniors can get a discounted ticket, but the rest.... nope. (There are some 12 year olds that have larger bottoms and taller than me, yet they get a cheaper rate, and they never give up their seats!)
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Fairness
Apr 11, 2012 at 10:39 am
Whoops sorry, I meant fare not fair increases, (its still early and I haven't had coffee yet...also if they are going to have transit security or police and pay them, then they shouldn't be wasting time issuing tickets but checking tickets and watching out for and keeping the environment for bus drivers and patrons safe and not worry about collecting fees, that should not be their job.
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john smith
Apr 11, 2012 at 12:16 pm
"Commissar" might be more appropriate terminology for these unelected bureaucrats. That said, this is all just a setup - we're supposed to be grateful that this turkey is allowing only a 10 % increase in one year instead of 12 %? Give me a break and a ballot
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@fairness
Apr 11, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I just thought fair was play on words fare and it went over my head anyhow...

In any case, if TransLink isn't able to raise fares to cover the Everwhatever line, where is it going to find the cash? Does that mean good-bye to TransLink?

Hope so, BC Transit can step in to run light rail like in Victoria where there isn't any mention SkyTrain.
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Fairness
Apr 11, 2012 at 12:49 pm
I agree, I think a fair fare raise would be appropriate, but lets get rid of this complicated zone garbage, flat rate for the day. Most people who ride the bus one way are more than likely riding it back! So that's two trips at least, so lets just raise the rate and have an all day ticket! i thought the province sent mayors and ministers etc., to Europe and other cities to get ideas? what did all these experts do sitting around the table, come up with "how do we copy all the bad ideas and make this a flipping fiasco so we have a job for life fixing up the problems, and hire more experts to fix our screw ups, and meanwhile we got free trips around the world, not have to work or think too hard, and let everyone else deal with our incompetence". Maybe they should have just gone next door to Alberta and looked at Calgary's LRT! I used it in 1982 and it was running just fine then, I"m sure its still working fine now.
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unfair
Apr 11, 2012 at 3:05 pm
there are no zones with extra charges and a ticket is about 2.75 and no added charges and no need for a day pass, this is also across Canada. Low income will be mostly be affected because increase is on cash sells.
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Fairness
Apr 11, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Yes, if you go more than two zones you pay more, and the ticket is only good for a certain time period when you use it, so I have to purchase another ticket to go back where I came from if I stay longer than an hour! If you are taking the skytrain you pay per zone, where do you get 2.75 and no extra charges? You only go one zone obviously....I spend a lot of time going to Vancouver and back, my appointment is like less than 1/2 hour but by the time I get back to the bus stop I have to have another ticket, I can get a day pass, but that's like almost 10.00 and I'm only taking two trips that day. Anyway, its about Translink trying to make money, not lose money si make ridership affordable and easy! and lets get rid of the zones and the age difference etc., on the skytrain, and have one ticket for the day is what I am saying and some way to monitor how people get into the train area that are only holding a ticket, it would be cheaper in the long run and less people cheating the system.
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Argulion
Apr 11, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I wonder if Translink will ever discover that they are in a business that depends on volume. Increasing rates and fees tends to reduce volume and results in little to no increase in revenue.
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The only place people pay for 3 zones
Apr 11, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Is BC or it is one rate to take you to where you gotta be, that is all over the world. Now that would be fair, not 3 zones and a bunch of baboons to check your to see if you paid that extra. Walmart you need your own police force to check everyone at the door as security isn't up to it says translink and its takes more than bannanes to keep them on the job. I was stuck taking transit and you got it couldn't find my ticket but thank god it worked out because I hate being treated like a criminal when I am not.
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Lee L
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:41 am
User pay. Seems right to me.
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