Whitehorse transit fare increase staggered per council direction

City council has voted to phase in the transit fare increase set for July 1. Councillors unanimously adopted a measure which would stagger the hike in the price of a bus ticket. The fare price was supposed to increase to $3. City council has voted to phase in the transit fare increase set for July 1. Councillors unanimously adopted a measure which would stagger the hike in the price of a bus ticket. The fare price was supposed to increase to $3.50 — a full dollar over the current fee of $2.50 — come Canada Day. It had initially been presented as part of the city operating budget. Now, thanks to an influx of of cash from the Yukon government via the Comprehensive Municipal Grant, the bus fare increase will only increase 50 cents this summer and then another 50 cents next summer. The phased-in approach was initially floated by Councillor Paolo Gallina during budget deliberations, but turned down at the time. The proposal to change the Fees and Charges Bylaw to reflect the phase-in fare hike reached third reading on April 28’s city council meeting. Third reading is the final vote before something becomes adopted by city council. Keitha Clark, of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, is one of the people who spoke to council when the increase to transit fare was first floated. She asked city council to not increase bus fares. “We think that it’s good that the fare increase is happening incrementally, but we really are encouraging the city and our community to think more broadly about how to make transit accessible for a whole community,” Clark told the News over the phone on April 30. Clark added that public transit should be people’s “first choice,” when it comes to getting around. She listed the numerous benefits of increased usage of public transit: less wear and tear on the roads, and environmental benefits. Clark said YAPC had sent a letter to council recently, encouraging them to make transit free after 6 p.m. or in the cold winter months, or to consider using a donation system. She said YAPC would like to see council look at the big picture of transit for everyone in the community. “It benefits everyone when we have good, working transit system,” she said. Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com