GO Transit board plans 25-cent fare hike By Tim Foran OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 5 · Wednesday, February 17, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com The cost of an adult ticket on GO Transit will rise 25 cents, or in the range of 2.85 to 4 per cent for Halton commuters, if Metrolinx's board of directors approves a fare hike as expected Friday in Toronto. Metrolinx, the provincial agency that now oversees GO, already advised the Minister of Transportation on Jan. 28 of its intent to increase fares in order to generate additional revenue of approximately $14.6 million in its 2010-11 budget, according to a report to the board from Gary McNeil, GO's managing director. "GO traditionally has recovered 85 per cent of its operating costs from revenues. Limited ridership growth and increases in operating expenses over the past year means that with the recommended flat fare increase of 25 cents per trip, fares and sundry revenues will provide just over 81 per cent of the cost of operating the service," states McNeil in his report, available at www.metrolinx.com. "The balance will be supported by the provin- cial subsidy ($72 million)." GO increased fares last year by 25 cents as part of the current 2009-10 budget and 15 cents in the 2008-09 year. Ridership on the system was 55 million in 2008, up from about 48 million in 2006. GO's business plan for its upcoming fiscal year includes additional rail trips and bus services, maintenance of new and existing facilities and "a significant investment in customer service improvements," the report states. The report also recommends equalizing discount rates for bulk passes. A 10-ride ticket would be priced at a 7.5-per-cent discount off the cost of buying 10 individual tickets. The price of a monthly pass would be 17.5 per cent cheaper than buying 40 individual tickets. The discounts for students would be double those percentages and seniors and children would continue to pay half of what adults pay. As GO's fares are partially based on distance, Halton's adult commuters currently pay different prices, from a low of $6.25 for the train from Oakville GO to Union Station to a high of $8.80 from Aldershot GO to Union. Milton, Burlington and Georgetown GO adult commuters heading to Union on the train pay $8, $8.05 and $8.25 respectively for single tickets. In Halton, the recommended fare hikes equate to an approximate 2.85 per cent rise for a single adult ticket between Aldershot and Union stations or a 4-per-cent rise between Oakville and Union stations. 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