Transit Fares Changing - Single Ride Regular Adult Transit Fare Returns To Where It Once Was

Starting February 1st the City of Moose Jaw would like to advise Moose Jaw Transit riders the bus fare is going up but in a strange sort of a way it is a bit of deja vu or a blast from the past and a return to where they once were.

Starting February 1st the cost of a single adult ride will be increasing from $1.25 to $2.25 as the City has abandoned what could be described as a pilot project to encourage increased ridership of the service.

Moose Jaw Transit’s Fee Schedule Effective February 1st - Source City of Moose Jaw

In order to encourage ridership the City had cut the bus fare from $2.25 to $1.25. The initial $2.25 included a valid 90 minute transfer whereas the $1.25 entitled the rider to ride to the Downtown depot at which point an additional $1.25 fare had to be paid if traveling further as the City had eliminated transfers.

For many riders under the initial fare they would ride Downtown for $2.25, do their business in the Downtown core and then hop on the return bus for the ride back to their initial starting point. The $1.25 fare each way raised the round trip fare to $2.50.

Riders requiring a transfer are advised to request one from the transit driver at the time they board the bus.

The cost for paratransit will be $1.50 per trip commencing February 1st.

Cash fares for other rider classes - senior and student - have increased from before the pilot project.

The City is also providing seniors who previously purchased an annual pass in 2020 will receive a $50 discount on their 2021 annual pass.

Discounted transit passes are available for people receiving Social Assistance, Transitional Employment Allowance, Provincial Training Allowance, Saskatchewan Assured Income Disability or Saskatchewan Employment Supplement. Proof of participation in one of the above programs must be presented at the time of pass purchase.

Families will receive a bit of a break as there will be a family pass discount of $10.00 per pass available for each pass purchased for a family group. Forms must be completed, signed by an adult family member and submitted at the time of pass purchase.

Recently the City looked at eliminating the Saturday transit service due to the high costs and low ridership but Council decided not to proceed with any such cuts, if needed, until May 1st. Council did this by cutting their $20,000 travel budget and allocating the funds to subsidize the Saturday transit service for three months. It is unknown at this time if the Saturday service will remain the same, be re-vamped or cut after a review.

The service has also recently had a minor service enhancement by an extension on one route and two new bus stops.

Administration is working on a report to improve the system which may include the return to 30 minute routes from the present 40 minute routes as well as overall changes to the routes.