Halifax Transit adds and cuts routes, looks to raise fares in September

Halifax Transit will add new bus routes and cut others this year to improve service, but a proposed fare hike this fall might be denied.

The department's proposed $68.2-million budget came before Halifax councillors at a budget committee meeting Wednesday.

The proposed budget is up about 13 per cent over last year, driven mostly by salary and benefit increases and new services.

The budget includes a proposed $0.25 fare increase that would take effect in September. It would boost adult single fares from $2.75 to $3 and increase prices about nine per cent for passes and other fares.

That change would bring in about $700,000 this fiscal year and about $1.2 million in future years.

But Coun. Shawn Cleary asked staff to find other ways to raise those funds.

Dave Reage, executive director of Halifax Transit, said they'd likely have to raise the tax rate slightly by 0.1 per cent if the fare hike was denied.

Coun. Tim Outhit said he'd like staff to actually explore delaying plans or cutting employee vacancies.

"We're not comfortable yet," Outhit said.

Transit staff will return to council with options in the next few weeks.

Fares last increased in September 2019, when they also rose 25 cents.

The 2024-25 budget includes four changes under the Moving Forward Together Plan (MFTP) that were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing issues.

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.