TransLink increasing fares by 10 percent on January 1

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      TransLink riders in Metro Vancouver will soon see the price of a one-zone fare rise by 10 percent—from $2.50 to $2.75.

      Two-zone fares are set to climb from $3.75 to $4, and three-zone fares from $5 to $5.50.

      The regional transportation authority announced today (November 13) that it will increase cash fares, DayPass prices, monthly FareCard prices, HandyDART fares, and West Coast Express fares on January 1, 2013.

      Prices for adult FareSaver tickets, which were last hiked along with FareCard prices in 2010, will not change. (The price of a pack of one-zone concession FareSaver tickets, however, will increase from $17 to $17.50.) TransLink last hiked cash fares in 2008.

      The cost of a FareCard will be going up by about 12.5 percent. A one-zone pass will rise from $81 to $91, a two-zone pass from $110 to $124, and a three-zone pass from $151 to $170.

      For HandyDART users, one- and two-zone fares will increase from $2.50 to $2.75, three-zone fares from $3.75 to $4, and four-zone fares from $5 to $5.50.

      TransLink says fares make up 33 percent of its revenue. Under the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act, TransLink may increase fares by an annual rate of two percent to keep up with inflation.

      The authority had actually sought a 12.5-percent supplementary fare increase for 2013, but that proposal was rejected by TransLink commissioner Martin Crilly in April. FareCard prices are not regulated by the TransLink commission.

      TransLink is currently installing fare gates in SkyTrain stations, in preparation for the introduction of the Compass electronic fare card in 2013.

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      Comments

      43 Comments

      Jebus

      Nov 13, 2012 at 5:41pm

      That'll learn poor people to live in the suburbs.

      Sarah-Arboleda

      Nov 13, 2012 at 5:50pm

      So much for a greener city. Is Translink trying to get Vancouverites to drive more?

      Why not see how much money is made come Fall of 2013 when all of the fare-evaders are forced to pay instead of gouging those of us who transit honestly?

      ishka bibble

      Nov 13, 2012 at 6:49pm

      they should start tolling the motherfucking bike lanes...

      Mark Aberlope

      Nov 13, 2012 at 8:33pm

      Great idea to add hundreds of ghost buses to routes in Surrey Translink and suburb mayors!!

      Since no one pays Zone 3 fares anyways, time to squeeze a bigger profit out of the Zone 1 routes literally overflowing with demand.

      Turnip

      Nov 13, 2012 at 8:53pm

      And in the meanwhile Taxi drivers are gleefully celebrating.

      It is cheaper to park downtown now monthly then to take transit.

      I would expect a hike in fares if we had seen some new developments in Vancouver, but the last major development was the Canada line. They haven't extended hours on the Skytrain, they haven't added more buses to the most popular routes downtown, the trains and buses are fuller and smellier than ever (never cleaned, even after Fri-Sat nights) the list could go on for a while.

      Tapwater

      Nov 13, 2012 at 9:03pm

      Yes, the fare gates, what ever will Translink do when they can't attribute whatever amount of loss they deem to the specter of fare evasion.

      PleaseWhatever

      Nov 13, 2012 at 9:08pm

      Dear Ian Jarvis, Fred Cummings, Doug Kelsey, Cathy McLay, Bob Paddon, & other Translink Executives,
      Congratulations on your legacy. The wrong side of history is beckoning you into its bosom. It's sad to see people in executive positions who are uninspired and afraid to challenge themselves. How unfortunate that everyone in metro Vancouver must suffer for your reactionary financial mismanagement. Sigh. Plus ca change...

      Okay.

      Nov 13, 2012 at 9:08pm

      I guess it's time to get a car

      Urbanelf

      Nov 13, 2012 at 9:45pm

      I don't know what it costs anyone else, but for me with my tip-top condition 1990 Mazda Miata, it's significantly cheaper for me to drive than it is to use transit in this city. That includes gas, insurance AND regular maintenance / occasional repairs.

      That's messed up.

      Little Elf

      Nov 13, 2012 at 10:44pm

      Thanks, Translink. Merry F****** Christmas to you, too.