Edmonton city council votes against ETS fare hike to cover deficit

Edmonton is dealing with a budget shortfall and city council could be looking at raising transit fares, which could make Edmonton one of the most expensive places in canada to ride the bus or LRT. 

As the Edmonton Transit Service deals with inflationary pressures and high fuel costs — Wednesday — city council also heard the number of those who use subsidized bus monthly bus passes for low-income individuals has gone up.

“It has grown from 6,000 people participating in 2017, to 30,000 people participating in 2024, so we have seen the growth and the need and we need to sustain this program,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

RELATED: Edmontonians could see transit fares increase in 2025

Edmonton’s mayor told media he wants to keep the heavily subsidized transit pass for low-income Edmontonians despite the program being behind a $10 million funding gap for Edmonton transit. 

Wednesday, city councillors heard a proposal that would have seen an adult cash fare go up to $4.25, as well as more than doubling the cost of a youth and senior passes at $78. 

Instead, councillors voting to stay with an already approved increase that will see cash fares go up 25 cents next year to $3.75, but keep senior and youth passes at $36.

Earlier this year the Government of Alberta reversed course on cutting funding for low-income transit passes in the province. Mayor Sohi says he hopes that will lead to more funding as the program grows.

“I think we have a shared goal here with the province to sustain this program for the long-term,” said Sohi.

Councillors also voting to put together an unfunded $10.2 million package to make up for the deficit, that they’ll debate in the fall. Council also voted yes on exploring alternative options for revenue like selling ETS merchandise. 

Councillor for the city’s northeast Aaron Paquette says he’s ready for tough budget discussions later this year around transit to address the shortfall, adding expecting ETS to recovery costs is the wrong way to view the issue. 

“Without transit, our economy would tank, it would be unbelievable — we couldn’t function as a city. It’s a necessity. We don’t ask fire services to recoup costs, we don’t ask police services to recoup costs, but for some reason, we ask transit to recoup costs,” said Paquette.

But with cash fares and arc card caps still going up next year, the thought of a fare increase not sitting well with Edmonton transit riders.