Winnipeg Transit (CITY OF WINNIPEG / FILE)
Winnipeg Transit is stepping up fare enforcement in an effort to improve safety and reduce revenue losses, Mayor Scott Gillingham announced Friday.
The city’s expanded team of community safety officers is now conducting fare checks as part of daily patrols, alongside transit inspectors. Officials say the move responds to concerns from the Amalgamated Transit Union and riders that fare evasion is often linked to assaults on drivers and harassment of passengers.
“That’s a serious concern, and we’re stepping up enforcement to deal with it,” Gillingham said in a release.
Coun. Janice Lukes, chair of the public works committee, said the city has boosted funding for transit by 27 percent since 2022 and introduced programs such as free fares for children under 12 and a low-income pass.
“If we want to keep improving service, fare revenue has to be reliable,” said Lukes.
Winnipeg Transit estimates fare evasion costs $7 million to $10 million a year. The city is also investing in a new payment system that will allow riders to pay with debit, credit, or mobile tap options.
