TransLink announces fare tariff changes
Changes aim to make system more equitable.
After a review of discounts and programs in its tariff, TransLink will make changes that will affect customers. As part of the changes, several programs will be discontinued.
As approved by the TransLink Board, the changes to the tariff include the discontinuation of:
- Employer Pass Program effective January 1, 2014. This program provided an extra 15 per cent discount to members and required a 12 month commitment. Customers can continue to purchase monthly passes.
- FareSaver tickets will begin transitioning out as early as January 1, 2014. A discount on regular fares will be provided within the new stored value option for Compass Cards.
- Free travel for family members of monthly pass holders on Sundays and holidays effective January 1, 2014.
- West Coast Express 7-day pass effective January 1, 2014. Existing ticket machines will begin transitioning out in November.
- West Coast Express 28-day pass effective January 1, 2014. Customers will be able to purchase a calendar monthly pass. Existing ticket machines will begin transitioning out in November.
- West Coast Express $1 fee for bikes. Customers on West Coast Express can now transport bicycles for free.
“This is about equity and fairness in the system,” says Bob Paddon, TransLink’s executive vice president, strategic planning and public affairs. “We took a good, hard look at our programs to determine which ones still make sense. We found some programs benefitted a select few people and companies.”
Some of the programs to be discontinued were originally introduced at a time when TransLink needed to attract customers to the system – particularly in 1999 with the opening of the Millennium Line and following a strike in 2001. With an 84 per cent increase in ridership and a 50 per cent increase in service hours over the last decade, such programs have served their purpose well.
“We now move more than a million trips a day on our system,” says Paddon. “Our incentive programs did their job. In the interest of fairness and efficiency for the overall system, it’s now time to dial back on some of our discount programs.”
TransLink’s transportation demand management team, as part of the TravelSmart program, will continue to work with companies, municipalities and customers to help people explore the travel options.
More information is available online.