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Susan Ruttan, Edmonton Journal
9 k2 a8 L) w7 d+ e$ |5 k7 v5 [+ FPublished: Friday, March 30, 2007$ W& [/ O- Q5 T( [+ V" \6 x, K( K; R* {
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The cost of a monthly transit pass could jump by $15 if city council endorses a proposed new transit fare policy.& g+ G1 l; u) Y X- j
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That policy would use the cost of an adult transit ticket, currently $2.50, to set all other fares charged by Edmonton Transit.( X! C/ x- x/ p0 g0 ~
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It would end the random system of fare increases being approved each year by city council. Council in December voted to raise the adult ticket by 25 cents, but left the $59 monthly adult pass untouched.
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In the new formula, any increase in the adult cash fare would trigger increases in all other fares., N( C6 A$ ]8 t. `+ Z' }" H
2 w' u9 L) L6 ]" s9 E) h3 D# MIt’s proposed that the adult monthly pass would cost 55 per cent of the cost of a cash fare, assuming an average transit rider takes 54 trips a month. That works out to $74, about the same price as a monthly pass in St. Albert, Strathcona County and Calgary." O5 X$ [# _, \7 E5 e7 n4 t% p, w1 \
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“Currently our cash fares and month passes are priced below comparable organizations,” said Patricia Waisman, director of business development for Edmonton Transit.$ v/ {6 m/ r0 a8 g* H5 f; `/ W
7 l( s, G/ @; I" rThe new system of all fares being based on the basic fare would help to correct that, she said.
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9 M3 ~" w$ f) {Waisman said the “multiplier” in the formula, the average 54 trips a month, varies from city to city. In Toronto the multiplier would be a bigger number, in Lethbridge a smaller number.
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The proposed change acts on a recommendation of the city auditor David Wiun.- a D1 v, h* r( L
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In a recent report, he said Edmonton’s transit passes and cash fares are 11 to 14 per cent below that of comparable cities. The result is that Edmonton taxpayers must pay a greater share of transit’s budget than in those other cities, he said. |
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