A planned 10 per cent increase to transit fares in Regina has cleared its final hurdle. Councillors officially approved the amended bylaw during Wednesday’s meeting. The decision follows a budget plan to increase ridership fees to generate more revenue for the city. The increase means a single rider fee will now cost $3.50. Monthly and semi-annual passes will also increase to $97 and $488 respectively. When asked whether the rate hike might discourage residents from using public transit, Mayor Chad Bachynski said he hopes it will have the opposite effect. “City administration actually accounted for a potential decline in ridership as part of the calculations when we were trying to figure out what the deficit might be that we were trying to make up at budget time,” Bachynski said. “These are all estimates at this point. That was a consideration – obviously, we hope that is not the case.” The new rates will take effect on April 8.
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