Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Route 51 (Vedder) as shown in this file photo from downtown Chilliwack.
Transit fares

Transit fares in Chilliwack could increase with council vote this week

Jun 16, 2025 | 8:54 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack city councillors are set to consider a motion at their meeting this week that could see a transit fare increase on single-use rides, 30-day passes and semester passes as early as this fall.

According to agenda item 7.4 on this week’s council agenda, Chilliwack councillors are being asked to approve a transit fare that would see adult fares increase from $2 to $2.25 and student/senior fares rise from $1.75 to $2.25, starting this October. Future increases of 25 cents would each occur in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal years, bringing the single-fee cost to $2.75 by fall 2027.

A staff report from the City of Chilliwack says BC Transit has been working on a transit fare review process with municipal stakeholders within the FVRD region to assess and implement transit fare “adjustments.” The review concluded by saying a fare increase was necessary to balance the goal of maximize revenue, attracting and retaining ridership, reducing fare complexity and ensuring affordability, along with the ultimate goal of aligning fares across the region.

The city noted in its staff report that revenues derived from transit fares are used to offset the overall costs needed to operate the city’s transit service. On average, the city’s director of finance indicated, transit fares offset about 30 per cent of the cost of the transit system, meaning it is important that rates are reviewed and updated at intervals to keep pace with transit inflationary cost increases and maintain the general user pay portion ratio.