City council votes to keep current Edmonton Transit rates – Edmonton [Video]

Edmonton city councillors have unanimously voted to keep transit fares as they currently are.

Wednesday’s vote came after the Edmonton Transit Service brought forward a report that found a funding shortfall of roughly $10 million within the existing budget.

That shortfall was due to the rise in people using the Ride Transit pass.

City council was presented with several ideas on how fees could be increased. For seniors, the cost would have doubled from $35 to $78 per month.

“Having access to public transit is so essential,” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said, adding that is why city council was hesitant to raise transit fares Wednesday.

“Asking them to pay more at this time is not something we should be looking at,” said Sohi.

Daniel Witte, with Edmonton Transit Riders, a group that advocates for improved public transit. He said he is grateful that rates will stay the same.

“We were not expecting to come out of …