Local News

Fare hike next stop for city transit

The HSR wants to hike bus fares for the third time in as many years to make up for lower ridership and increased costs.

By Emma Reilly, Last Updated Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Published in the Hamilton Spectator on Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The HSR wants to hike bus fares for the third time in as many years to make up for lower ridership and increased costs.

The city's transit system is facing a $1.6-million loss this year and a predicted $3.4-million shortfall next year.

Council will be presented with two options to help recoup costs at a special meeting on Thursday: a 10-cent increase, which would bump monthly passes to $84, or a 20-cent increase, which would hike passes to $88.

Pre-paid tickets would go up to $1.95 or $2.05 from $1.85, while fares paid on the bus would grow to $2.50 or $2.60 from $2.40.

If approved, the hike would go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

Don Hull, the city's director of transit, said a 10-cent hike would get the city "back on track" after this year's losses.

However, his department will face a predicted $2.1-million increase in expenditures and a $1.3-million loss in revenue in 2010.

"We've never been here before," Hull said. "The impact of the recession on this city has been very, very severe."

Council is also considering other options to cut costs and boost revenue, including extending advertising into the Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System (DARTS) fleet and purchasing diesel buses instead of more costly hybrid buses.

Peter Hutton of the Hamilton Transit Users Group said the working poor will be the hardest hit by any fare hike.

"Those who absolutely need to use public transit 10 to 15 times a week are going to be paying this price on ticket and cash fare," he said.

The debate over transit fares is a familiar one in Hamilton. In January 2008, HSR riders were hit with a 15-cent hike. That was only a few months after fares were raised to $2.25 from $2.10 in June 2007.

Last November, council rejected a 10-cent fare increase after a tie vote maintained the status quo.

Councillor Tom Jackson, who voted in favour of the hike last year, said 10 cents is a reasonable increase, but he would be "leery" of raising fares by 20 cents.

"I think a dime is more than reasonable," he said.

But Councillor Sam Merulla, who has advocated for free transit, said any fare hike is misguided.

"There is a direct correlation between increased transit fares and decreased ridership," he said. "You're just contributing to your own net revenue going down."

Hutton said he's "extremely disappointed" that council is considering another hike.

"It's not in line with the city's strategic goals. It's in line with its fiscal goals," he said.

Single-ride adult transit fares: How Hamilton measures up

  • Brantford: $2.25
  • Hamilton: $2.40
  • Guelph: $2.50
  • London: $2.75
  • Toronto: $2.75
  • Mississauga: $3.00

Hamilton's bus fees

2003 - May 2007

  • Fare: $2.10
  • Ticket: $1.70
  • Monthly pass: $65

June 2007 - December 2007

  • Fare: $2.25
  • Ticket: $1.75
  • Monthly pass: $71

Jan 2008 - present

  • Fare: $2.40
  • Ticket: $1.85
  • Monthly fares: $79

Proposed hike for 2010:

  • Fare: $2.50 or $2.60
  • Ticket: $1.95 or $2.05
  • Monthly pass: $84 or $88