YRT to introduce new fares effective January 2007

Monthly passes more economical option than purchasing individual cash tickets

NEWMARKET – York Regional Council has approved increases for select York Region Transit (YRT) fares, effective January 2007.  The fare increases are expected to generate an additional $2 million in revenue to help offset the Region's estimated $75 million in annual transit program costs.

Each year York Region undertakes a fare structure review to ensure that YRT remains competitive in the marketplace while recovering costs associated with the significant transit investments that have been made throughout the past five years.

The approved YRT fare changes take into account a number of different factors, including current service contractor rates, gas prices, consistency with other GTA transit system fare structures, cost recovery targets and the opportunity to discount fares for regular transit customers.

The price of York Region's monthly passes remains well below the cost of purchasing individual tickets on a daily basis, reinforcing the economical benefits of purchasing monthly passes and leaving your car at home.  Public transit remains the most environmentally friendly and economic method of travel.

The proposed fare increases will not affect the following categories:  Student tickets, Senior/Child tickets, Ride to GO tickets and the Ride to GO Monthly Sticker Pass.  The following table illustrates all of the YRT fare categories and the approved fare increases, effective January 2007: