Transit Fare Collection Resumes

For Immediate Release

Friday, August 7, 2020 - Port Hope, ON

The Municipality of Port Hope is advising residents that transit fare collection will resume for all bus services on Monday, August 17, 2020, on the heels of the lifting of the Provincial Emergency Declaration, which took place on July 24, 2020.

“As the Province has entered Stage Three of the Reopening Plan, we, like many other communities, are phasing in services and resuming standard fee collections as part of our local reopening and recovery,” explains Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “Fortunately, our transit services have been operating throughout the duration of the pandemic, and I would like to commend our drivers for reporting to work each and every day and providing wonderful service to our community.”

Transit vehicles have been operating at half-capacity since March 2020, and will continue to do so, in keeping with the Ontario Government guidelines to stay a distance of two metres apart. Riders are strongly urged to wear a mask while on the bus and to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after riding transit. Increased and enhanced cleaning of buses will continue, as has been the practice since the pandemic affected the region earlier this year.

Transit fares in the form of exact change or transit passes will be accepted, as drivers do not carry change in their vehicles. At this time, passes may only be purchased at the Jack Burger Sports Complex (60 Highland Drive), as all other municipal facilities remain closed to the public. Passes are being sold at their usual rates and can be purchased by debit or cash starting on August 17, 2020.

Please visit the transit webpage for all municipal transit information, including fares, schedules, and routes.

Background

When the Provincial Emergency was declared on March 17, 2020, the Municipality was permitted to waive transit fees, to reduce the risk of contact between the drivers and passengers on transit vehicles. Additionally, the closure of all municipal facilities meant that bus passes were unavailable for purchase. Recovery of the lost revenue from the waiving of transit fees is available to the Municipality for the duration of the declared emergency. Since the emergency order has been lifted, the Municipality is no longer able to recover costs of lost revenue and must reinstate fees for Transit services.

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For more information, please contact us.