Brampton Transit increased the bus fare on Feb. 9 for the first time in three years.
PRESTO users will see fares rise by 15 cents per ride to $3.55 from $3.40. Seniors' fares will also increase by 10 cents to $1.85. Cash and Visa card fares will rise by 25 cents, to $4.75 from $4.50.
The increase in Brampton bus fares follows the release of the City of Brampton’s third-quarter operating budget meeting held on Nov. 26, 2025.
According to Chief Budget Officer Mark Medeiros, transit fare revenue has declined by $26 million. This is because of changes in federal immigration policy, trade uncertainty, and rising unemployment rates, resulting in a 20 per cent loss in ridership.
In response to federal budget cuts and declining ridership, the city had opted to raise transit fares, placing the financial burden on the commuters who rely on transit the most.
While a five per cent increase may appear minimal, for commuters who rely on transit daily and lack affordable alternatives, the impact is far from insignificant.
Affordable transit is often promised to the public, but repeated fare increases continue to undermine that commitment.
Brampton Transit also raised fares, for the first time in more than five years, in 2023. The price increased by more than 10 per cent, with cash fare increasing to $4.50 from $4. Riders adjusted, largely because the increase followed a long period of stability.
The most recent increase, however, comes just after three years and at a time when residents are already feeling financial strain.
The real outrage is not the size of the fare increase, but that Brampton riders are being asked to pay more for an inescapable necessity.
Brampton commuters heavily rely on buses because transportation options in the Flower City remain limited.
For many, especially students commuting from Brampton to Humber North campus, public transit buses are not a choice but the only accessible way to get to school.
Asking commuters with few alternatives to pay higher fare costs while they wait for service improvements undermines the principle of affordable and accessible transportation.
The fare increases risk exacerbating the very problem it claims to address.
Higher prices can discourage occasional and price-sensitive riders, slowing ridership recovery during a fragile period.
Sustainable transit funding should focus on affordability, rather than relying on fare increases that threaten the system’s success.
Brampton commuters are still waiting for promised alternative transportation options, including the long-awaited Hazel McCallion Line LRT. A project that has faced repeated delays and is now promised for 2029.
In contrast, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s 2026 budget claims that increased improvements and maintenance to the TTC will not affect transit fares, and the prices will continue to remain unchanged for a third consecutive year.
The City of Toronto budget plans to provide residents with multiple transportation options while holding fares steady, whereas Brampton Transit is proposing higher costs for riders using an unchanged system.
Even if bus fare increases are intended to recover revenue from lower ridership, the result is the same.
Brampton commuters are asked to pay more to wait.
Commuters should not be penalized for relying on the only option currently available.
Public transit should be affordable and dependable, treated as a commitment to riders rather than a burden they must carry.
