It’s going to be a little longer before bus fares go up again in Halifax.
In a statement from the mayor, Tuesday, Andy Fillmore says he introduced an amendment asking Council to deferring the hike until it can be aligned with tap-to-pay.
It was approved unanimously.
Bus fares currently stand at $3 for adults, after the last hike of $0.25 in September 2024.
Fillmore says the decision to increase fares was not made lightly.
“It was made with the understanding that riders would receive a meaningful improvement to their experience through the introduction of tap-to-pay at the same time,” says the statement.
According to the mayor, tap-to-pay is standard in any transit systems across Canada and as we grow, we need to make sure “our core services keep pace.”
“That means making transit easier to use, improving the customer experience and ensuring our transportation system is ready for the needs of a growing municipality.”
The original intent was to have the new pay system ready by September. That has been delayed to December.
“This is about keeping our word. If we’re asking transit users to pay more, they should receive the improved service we promised at the same time,” says Fillmore.
