A year ago, the cost of the seniors annual pass was scheduled to climb $20 in each year.

The proposed 2005 budget does not include any increases in fares for HSR or DARTS. This is a dramatic shift in direction from the fare hikes proposed a year ago. At that time, city staff called for a 15 cent a ride jump in 2004 followed by another 5 cents in 2005. The cost of a seniors annual pass was scheduled to climb $20 in each year.

Those increases drew widespread public condemnation especially from seniors, as well as the creation of a Transit Users Group that distributed thousands of flyers and lobbied many of the individual city councillors. In response, the council rejected the proposed increases, including a 5 cent a ride hike that had been already included in the 2004 budget calculations.

Instead of fare increases, the transit system will get a substantial infusion of cash from the provincial government. The McGuinty government is transferring a portion of the gas tax to municipalities, with the proviso that it be used exclusively for improvements to public transit. Hamilton 's share in 2005 is expected to be about $5 million.