Bus riders take note: come September there will be some changes to transit service in Powell River.
One of the biggest changes will be the fare hike for seniors and students on Thursday’s Texada-Regional bus, which transports Texada Island residents to Powell River and back once a week.
“It certainly creates a real hardship for people here on Texada,” said Sandy McCormick, Powell River Regional District board director for Texada Island. “People are concerned how the increase in fare on the community bus is going to impact their ability to go to Powell River.”
The senior and student fare for the Texada bus will go from $2.75 each way to $6—taking the round-trip fare from $5.50 to $12, more than double the cost.
McCormick said she agrees there is real concern on the island that ferry fees, currently only charged one way, are being charged for both the outgoing and return journeys.
The changes come just after BC Ferries ended free weekday travel for senior BC residents last year, switching the senior’s fare to 50 per cent-off regular adult fare.
As it stands now, the cost for seniors to travel round trip from Texada on BC Ferries is $5.65; with the BC Resident Assistance Program for seniors that fare is $2.15.
The likelihood of a bus fare increase was discussed last spring when a BC Transit representative met with the City of Powell River’s committee of the whole and the regional district’s rural services committee to discuss a fare structure review.
According to Mike Russell, a spokesperson for BC Transit, the increase on the Texada bus was not calculated based just on increased ferry costs, but factored-in increased operating costs as well.
“The recent fare review revealed that the old fare was substantially underpriced,” said Russell. “The new fare brings it in line with our actual operating costs.”
Bus fares for the Texada bus and buses in Powell River as a whole, were last increased in 2012.
Dale Reinhart, president of Texada Seniors Council, said although it is time for a fare adjustment, the increase is especially hard on seniors, and will cause hardship for them on the island.
“Many seniors on the island don’t drive so the bus is their way to get to medical or dental appointments,” said Reinhardt, explaining that many seniors will probably have to cut back their trips to Powell River.
“It’s time for another increase, no doubt about that, but you expect to go from $2.75 to paying $3 or something,” he said Reinhart. “You get used to paying something...and when it’s changed that can put a bit of a hardship on people.”
A zone three adult ticket for the Texada bus will go up to $6 from $9.25. Children under four still travel for free. There will also be changes to fares for adults and seniors in transit zones one and two.
Fare changes come into effect Tuesday, September 1. Changes to the Grief Point and the Lund Connector buses will also come into effect one week later, on Thursday, September 8.
For more information, readers can go to to BC Transit online.
