Transit fares to go up in Edmonton's proposed budget

Some Edmonton Transit Service fares would increase by 25% by 2030 if council approves the fee schedules laid out in administration's proposed 2027-2030 operating budget.

Administration proposes increasing the single trip fare — the amount a rider pays when tapping their Arc card or other payment method — from $3 to $3.15 in 2027, $3.30 in 2028, $3.50 in 2029, and $3.75 in 2030. The change would bring it in line with the cash fare by 2030, which would not change.

The city also proposes increasing the monthly fare caps commensurately. Arc's fare cap system means that instead of buying a transit pass at the beginning of each month, riders are only charged for how much they use transit, and they ride for free after reaching the monthly cap. A standard adult rider rides for free after 34 transit trips, a youth rides for free after 22 trips, and a senior rides for free after 12 trips. The proposed fee schedule would mean riders pay more for their month of transit use, but ride for free after the same number of trips.

The fare cap would also increase by 25% for Ride Transit users. Their monthly cap is currently set at $36 or $51, depending on their income level, meaning they ride for free after 12 or 17 trips, respectively. The increase to the monthly cap would keep that number the same.

Administration had presented a new policy in May that aimed to set a single, consistent approach to user fees across city services. A report said the property tax levy has increased by 60% in the past decade while revenue from recreation centres and attractions has increased by 22% and transit revenue has decreased by 18%. To address this, administration proposed introducing pre-established cost recovery targets. The city said it doesn't intend to recover the full cost of delivering transit from fares, and that the service can continue to be funded by a blend of user fees and taxes. Transit fares currently recover about 23% of the cost of delivering the service, administration said.

Coun. Anne Stevenson said at the meeting in May that she was worried about transit revenue going into a "death spiral" if the city adopts a cost-recovery model. "What I'm hearing is we increase transit fares, or we reduce service — if we do those two things … do we get to a point where we are increasing prices, which drives down usership, which drives down revenues further?"

ETS raised fares in February 2025, the first increase since 2021.

Edmonton is currently among the more affordable Canadian cities for single adult fares and monthly costs. Calgary charges $4 per ride and $126 for a monthly pass; Toronto charges $3.30 per trip with a monthly fare cap of about $155; and Montreal charges $3.75 per trip and $110 for a monthly pass.

Edmonton city council has a break from meetings this week and will return for regular committee meetings the week of Nov. 16 before beginning budget deliberations on Nov. 23 at a public hearing where Edmontonians can request to speak. It is expected to vote on the 2027-2030 budget by Dec. 18.

Mayor Andrew Knack is holding an Ask Me Anything session about the four-year municipal budget on Reddit on Nov. 10 from 7pm to 8pm.

For more on the proposed transit fare hike and other ins-and-outs of the four-year municipal budget, check out Episode 379 of Speaking Municipally.