The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) decided at its Dec. 3 infrastructure services committee to adopt a new transit fare structure and postpone the fuel tax debate.
Directors were asked to look at three options to change the transit fare structure as of May 1, 2016, in order to help maintain the financial sustainability of the Coast’s transit system.
While two options looked at increasing fares overall, directors settled on option three, which restructures fares as of May 1, 2016 but retains fare neutrality.
The new fare structure will eliminate discounts for seniors and youth (except for monthly passes) and round down adult fares, creating one fee system for everyone.
The new fare structure will see cash fares go from $2.25 to $2, day passes move from $5.50 to $5 and a 10-pack of tickets go from $20 to $18.
The cost for monthly passes will stay the same at $60; however, the discounted rate will be increased from $38 to $42.
Originally the staff report on option three suggested a $50 discounted monthly pass rate, but directors felt the $50 charge was too steep.
The $42 discounted monthly pass keeps the service revenue neutral.
Staff said the change will simplify the fare structure to make it more user friendly.
The decision by directors to change the fare structure was expected to be ratified at the regular SCRD board meeting on Dec. 10, past Coast Reporter deadline this week.
Fuel tax
Directors started discussing the merit of taxing people at the pump to subsidize an expansion in transit service on the Coast; however, staff noted the SCRD couldn’t both levy a property tax for transit (as is the practice now) and institute a fuel surcharge.
To simply stay at the service level now funded through property tax, the SCRD would have to institute a fuel tax levy of 3.8 cents per litre, said manager of transit and fleet Gordon Dykstra.
In order to make enough money to move forward with transit expansion on the Coast, West Howe Sound director Ian Winn noted closer to five cents a litre would have to be added at the pump.
Even if the SCRD was successful in gaining more funds for transit through a fuel tax, the province would have to agree to match the additional funds for any expansion to take place, general manager of infrastructure services Bryan Shoji noted.
Directors decided to defer more debate on the issue until the January infrastructure services committee.
