York Region is planning to keep its transit fares steady for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council committee of the whole approved a recommendation June 10 that York Region Transit (YRT) not increase its fares for the second consecutive year. Municipal staff projected the decision would create a $500,000 revenue loss in 2021.
Acting commissioner of transportation services Ann-Marie Carroll reported most other transit agencies in the greater Toronto area are also not increasing fees.
“Transit services have been reduced or temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the reduced number of daily travellers on the system,” Carroll's report said. “Holding transit fares supports travellers who are dependent on public transit for essential travel."
The YRT fare policy includes an internal adjustment annually, with an inflation rate applied to cover cost increase.
However, Carroll said staff plan to present a report in early 2022 about a revised fare policy and collection strategy based on a joint review with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It is expected to make recommendations to alter fare policy.
“The policy will identify go-forward fare recommendations that can be applied across all transit agencies in the GTHA and will be a further step in moving forward with GTHA fare and service integration,” Carroll said.
New YRT age category changes will go into effect, starting July 1 to be more consistent with other GTHA transit agencies. Children aged five and younger now riding free, changed from only one child ages one to five per adult. The secondary school requirement is also being eliminated for the youth category, ages 13 to 19.
Council approved these changes September 2020 and is expected to cost approximately $1.3 million annually based on 2019 ridership.
