WINNpass price freeze for 2024

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This article was published 24/11/2023 (707 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Transit will freeze the cost of its low-income bus pass.

Late Thursday night, city council approved a motion from Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee, to hold WINNpass program monthly and e-cash fares at 2023 levels throughout 2024.

This would keep the rates at $53.90 per month and $1.40 per ride, instead of allowing them to rise to reflect inflation.

Meanwhile, another motion aims to remove the entire cost for eligible, low-income riders.

The proposal from Coun. Matt Allard, seconded by Coun. Cindy Gilroy, calls for council to reduce the monthly charge for WINNpass users to $0 and eliminate e-cash fares for the same riders.

The motion also calls for the City of Winnipeg to hire a consultant to study further reductions of standard Transit fares and explore the cost of a free transit system.

The WINNpass currently lets eligible riders pay half the fare for e-cash rides and monthly passes.

The motion to eliminate the fares will be debated at a public works meeting in January.

Meanwhile, council also voted to advance the following proposals to next year’s budget process:

— Spending $1.4 million in 2024, $1.9 million in 2025, $1.8 million in 2026, and $1.8 million in 2027 on the city’s poverty-reduction strategy, which would cover multiple grants, new programs and an additional six full-time staff positions;

— Paying $135 million to switch to “smart” water meters, eliminating the need for manual readings;

— Adding 12.4 more full-time staff positions and millions of dollars per year to the public libraries budget to expand hours.

Council also voted to endorse 529 Garage to replace a city-run bike registry, in hopes of reuniting more stolen bikes with their owners.

It also opted to keep remote workplace options for city staff unchanged.