Kamloops Transit Bus (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

TRANSIT FARES

Increased Kamloops transit fares okayed by council’s Committee of the Whole

May 13, 2025 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops city council has tentatively approved a new fee schedule that will see the cost of transit fare gradually increase by 50 per cent over the next four years.

The cost of a single fare will eventually increase to $3 per ride in 2029, through a phased increased approved by council on Tuesday (May 13) morning.

“2011 was the last year we had a fare increase. What wasn’t specifically mentioned in there, and I think it’s important to talk about, was in 2015 we decreased our fares. We decreased it by, I think, 12 per cent, 10 per cent,” said Councillor Mike O’Reilly.

That decrease in 2015 has left the Kamloops transit system lagging behind fellow comparative communities with the current rate of $2 per trip and monthly adult passes for $50. Tuesday’s vote means the single cash fare will increase to $2.25, while the cost for an adult monthly pass will increase to $55.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Is there any future for Canada Post?

7h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: British Columbia, it's time for us to step up

May 21, 2025

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Latest program growth at Kamloops Y focused on mental wellbeing

May 21, 2025

Options presented to council (image credit – City of Kamloops)

The Kamloops transit system, which is set to expand by 8,000 service hours this year, is also being hit by an expected drop in TRU ridership.

“Due to the federal foreign policy changes, TRU is forecasting lower student enrollment, specifically international student enrollment. The reason this is important is because TRU students form approximately 50 per cent of our ridership,” said Nii Noi Akuetteh, City of Kamloops Transportation Engineer at Tuesday’s meeting.

The transit model is funded from three sources, two of which — the province, and the municipality — have seen increases, while the users’ portion has remained constant.

“What we end up seeing is we have been approving the increase of taxation portion of this funding model but we have yet to have the other side of the equation,” said Director of Corporate Services David Hallinan. “The two government parties have continued to pay for additional service hours, for additional support and additional changes of equipment. And this is simply a catchup in terms of the third party in this agreement that is in place.”

A motion put forward by Nancy Bepple to see the rate immediately increased to $3 per ride this September was defeated in favour of Option Four, the staggered increases, starting with a 25 cent increase this year.

“This will be a significant increase and it’s not those users’ fault that councils previous have not chosen to increase at an appropriate rate. To say now the user who is currently riding needs to make up for that in one fell swoop doesn’t seem reasonable to me. Option number four gives us that predictability of increase without sticker shock,” said Councillor Katie Neustaeter.

Council did raise the point of transit users wanting to see the quality increase along with the costs.

“The only real complaints, or concerns that I hear about our transit service, is they want more of it. They want more consistency and they want more predictability,” said O’Reilly.

City staff will now work with BC Transit to implement the new fare structure, complete with proper communication of the changes.