The region is considering hiking Grand River Transit's adult cash fare next year in a bid to get more people on board using the EasyGo card.
Adult cash fares could rise from $3.75 to $4 on July 1, 2025 as detailed in a proposal in next year's draft regional budget.
But as the region's acting commissioner of transportation services Doug Spooner explained Wednesday, while the single ride cash fare may be increasing, the cost of getting an EasyGo Fare card is being reduced from $5 to $4.
The region wants that move implemented in the wake of service enhancements on the card that make it easier to load and use, even for people who don't use banks or credit cards.
The intent, Spooner said, is to move people from the cash fare to the card.
Tapping an EasyGo card also gets adult riders on board at $3 per ride vs. the current $3.75 cash fare. That per-ride savings for the electronic fare will grow to $1 when the cash fare increases.
Buy an EasyGo card for $4, load it up with money and in four rides it's paid for.
"What we've got are folks that are leaving money on the table, effectively paying too much," Spooner told regional councillors.
If the proposed change goes through, GRT will be able to market the benefits of using the card over cash, "and really start to move people over."
Overall price hikes proposed in the draft budget will see average fares increase by 2.7 per cent.
Under the proposed fare increases, general use monthly passes would be $4 more, rising from $96 to $100 and affordable transit program passes would rise from $48 to $50.
Increased use of public transit means revenues are expected to rise $4.9 million next year. Fuel volatility is also decreasing and the region feels confident budgeting at a rate of $1.38 per litre for next year.
