The Pemberton Valley Transit System (PVTS) is looking for feedback on bus fares and fare products like the Umo card.
“The fare review process looks to assess existing fare pricing and products to ensure they balance affordability, ridership growth and cost recovery,” according to a new survey website.
The percentage of transit operating expenses recouped by passenger fare revenue has decreased, year over year.
In 2023-24, passenger fares covered about 26 per cent of operating costs. That fell to 20 per cent in 2024-25.The remaining 80 per cent is covered by local government funding (29 per cent) and provincial subsidies (51 per cent).
Fares are intended to be reviewed on a three- to four-year cycle. The latest review was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent provincial Safe Restart funding that offset pandemic-era fare losses
The last change to PVTS fare products occurred in June 2024, when the Umo transit app and reloadable card were introduced to Whistler and Pemberton.
But with demand for transit and the cost of operation both increasing, a review of the fare system is now necessary.
There will be an in-person event on May 14 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Community Development–Human Services office in Lil’wat (203 Eagle Drive, Mount Currie). Residents will have the opportunity to fill out surveys and learn more about the fare change there.
Paper surveys will also be available at the Pemberton Municipal Hall and Lil’wat First Nation Office.
The survey is available here until May 25.
