New programs, new fares, free rides for youth.
Vernon council unanimously approved staff recommended changes to the fare strategy for the Vernon Regional Transit (VRT) system at its regular meeting Monday, June 8.
The proposed fare products, fare policies, and phased fare structure changes are slated to begin April 1, 2027, though council has requested BC Transit to implement the changes “as soon as possible,” as motioned by Mayor Victor Cumming and approved by council.
Another fare review would take place in April 2028.
“Transit fare reviews are generally undertaken every three to five years in partnership with BC Transit to evaluate fare structures, modernize fare products, improve customer experience, support affordability objectives, and maintain long-term financial sustainability,” said city acting transportation manager Anne Huisken.
“Periodic reviews also allow transit systems to respond to increasing operating costs associated with inflation, service expansion, fleet replacement, technology investments, and other operating pressures while maintaining an appropriate balance between user fees and taxpayer contributions.”
In fall 2025, local government partners including the city, District of Coldstream, and Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), requested that BC Transit undertake a comprehensive fare review for the VRT. The previous fare review was completed in 2018, while a planned review in 2021 was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this period, transit ridership declined significantly and temporary federal funding programs helped maintain service levels and limit fare increases.
Staff recommended five changes for the Vernon Regional Transit system:
• Replace the existing transfer policy with the DayPASS Program and automatic DayPASS fare capping system
• Fare-free transit for youth aged 13 to 18 years be implemented on local routes 1 through 9 and regional routes 60 and 61, excluding Route 90 service to UBC Okanagan/Kelowna
• Approval of a local and regional fare structure for the Vernon system
• Implementing new pre-paid fare programs, including changes to the U-PASS Program, and introducing ProPASS fare products
• Interoperability of approved fare products between the Vernon and neighbouring BC Transit systems be maintained.
Out will go the current paper transfer system that allows riders to continue their trip within a defined transfer window without paying extra, and in comes the Automatic DayPASS and fare capping model.
Under the plan, riders using UMO or contactless tap-to-pay functionality would automatically stop being charged once they reach the daily DayPASS threshold. That allows for unlimited travel for the rest of the day at no extra cost.
Riders paying cash would continue to have access to paper DayPASS products bought in advance.
As part of this change, traditional transfer slips would be eliminated on Vernon Local Routes and replaced with automatic fare capping technology. Existing DayPASS products would transition to the new fare capping model for electronic payments while remaining available in paper format for cash-paying riders.
Automatic DayPASS fare capping would apply only to Vernon Local Transit Routes and would not apply to Regional Route 90 service to UBC Okanagan and Kelowna, which would continue under a separate regional fare structure.
The fare-free transit for youth aged 18 and under would continue to operate under a separate regional fare structure.
“The proposed approach is intended to improve transportation accessibility for youth while encouraging transit use at an early age, supporting travel to schools, recreation opportunities, employment, and community services,” said Huisken.
“Expanding access to transit for younger riders may also help establish long-term transit ridership patterns and reduce transportation barriers for families.”
The proposed expansion to youth aged 13 to 18 would be funded locally.
Providing fare-free transit for youth aged 13 to 18 on Vernon Local Transit Routes is estimated to reduce annual fare revenue by approximately $85,400.
“This impact has been incorporated into the financial modelling and is expected to be substantially offset by increased revenue from other recommended fare adjustments and products,” said Huisken.
A single fare rate is currently $2.50 and that will rise to $3 starting April 2027, and remain through to April 2029 (pending Cumming’s proposed review in 2028).
The DayPASS will remain at $6, and a 30-day adult pass, which is presently $55, will go to $65 in 2027, and up to $75 in 2029.
The VRT provides conventional and custom transit (HandyDART) services throughout the City of Vernon, the District of Coldstream, and communities within the RDNO, including Lumby and Enderby.
Transit service is delivered through a partnership with BC Transit and funded through a combination of provincial contributions, local property taxation, passenger fares, and advertising revenue.
Fare revenue is shared among participating partners and offsets a portion of operating costs, with the remaining costs funded through local taxation and provincial funding.
The RDNO and District of Coldstream must have a chance to reply to Cumming’s motion for implementation of changes as soon as possible.
