Halifax Transit is proposing a 25-cent increase for bus fare this fall. According to Halifax Regional Municipality staff, the proposed change would generate around $700,000 this fiscal year.
Some Halifax Counsellors are questioning the fare increase, saying that with the rising cost of everything else, that maybe now is not the time to raise fares. Coun. Cleary says he wants staff to explore other options to find that money.
Also, Halifax Transit, is looking to cut some existing bus routes while adding several new ones later this year, including route changes for the 1 Spring Garden and 10 Dalhousie. They also want to reinstate bus service that has been suspended due to staffing shortages.
Route 1 Spring Garden will now service Gottingen Street in both directions, while Route 10 A/B/C Dalhousie will become a new key corridor route. The Dalhousie route will see more buses travelling on the main artery before branching out in three different directions around the city.
There will also be more express service to the Bedford area through a new route for Hemlock Ravine and more rush-hour trips for Route 196 Basinview.
Transit staff have suggested cutting four underperforming routes to free up about 10,500 bus hours that could help tackle those ongoing issues. Those cuts include two express routes to the Woodside Ferry (178 and 179), local Route 26 Springvale in Fairmount, and Route 57 Portland Hills in Dartmouth.