Transit fares rise today

Photo: Castanet Staff - Castanet File Photo

It will cost you more to take a bus in the Central Okanagan today.

As of this morning, fares rose 16 per cent for both conventional and community transit and 12 per cent for HandyDart service.

The increases were approved by Kelowna city council in March.

The increase, the first for Kelowna Regional Transit in three years, will offset rising operating costs and capital improvement costs made during the past couple of years.

It will now cost $2.50 across the board for an adult single fare ticket. That's up from $2.25 for adults and college students and $2 for seniors and students up to Grade 12. Children under five still ride free.

Adult day passes are now $6.50, up from $6 and $5.50, respectively.

Monthly passes jumped to $70 for adults, $55 for college students and $45 for seniors and students up to Grade 12.

The HandyDart service will increase by 11 per cent for cash fares ($2.50 from $2.25) and 12 per cent for monthly passes ($75 from $67).

According to figures released to council in March, it currently costs slightly more than $20 million to run the regional transit service from Peachland to Lake Country, with revenues of $5.599 million (27 per cent cost recovery).

Council's objective has been to hit 30 per cent.

However, the latest fare increases will keep cost recovery at 27 per cent.