Thunder Bay Transit to offer new online pass

As part of the citys five-year plan to modernize its bus services, passengers may soon get some different choices when paying for a ride.

Transit Manager Brad Loroff is asking city council to approve re-structuring of fares, including allowing the purchase of individual monthly passes(online only) for up to a three month period.

For regular transit users like Beverly Persity, the idea of having more options for paying her fare is a good thing. She said buying a pass for three months would be convenient.

"Because then you don't have to worry about going to get more cards, or tickets, or have change in your pocket," she said.

"You've got this pass, you can forget about it for a few months."

Thechanges would come with a cost,including slight increases at the fare box and for both monthly and 20 ride passes.

Loroff is proposing small, annual increases just five cents this year and similar increases in the future, rather than larger fare hikes every few years.

Other goals for Thunder Bay Transit include offering re-loadable cards to pay for bus rides, and discounts during non-peak periods.