TransLink fares to rise by five per cent starting on Canada Day 2026 | Daily Hive

TransLink fares to rise by an average of five per cent starting on Canada Day 2026, plus first-ever YVR AddFare hike

YVR Airport Station on SkyTrain's Canada Line. (Kenneth Chan)

Public transit riders across Metro Vancouver will see fares increase again this summer as TransLink moves ahead with a planned hike tied to its long-term funding strategy.

The changes, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, will raise fares by an average of five per cent, following a four per cent increase in 2025.

The change is part of TransLink’s 10-year investment plan through 2034, which aims to sustain public transit services and fund future improvements across the region.

TransLink’s board of directors approved the new fare rates in a public meeting this morning.

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From 2021 through 2024, fare increases were previously capped at an average of 2.3 per cent annually under TransLink’s agreements with the provincial and federal governments in exchange for pandemic-time operating funding. That agreement expired at the end of 2024.

TransLink staff assert the additional fare revenue is necessary to maintain service levels amid rising operating costs and growing demand.

It was previously indicated that higher annual fare increases would be forthcoming to help catch up with the substantial market cost inflation previously experienced, emerging out of the pandemic. It also directly serves to avoid significant service cuts and help fill the gap of TransLink’s structural operating deficit, which would have otherwise began this year if it were not for an approved combination of higher increases to fares, property taxes, and parking taxes — on top of the provincial government’s final operating cost subsidy, which is intended to last through the end of 2027.

The provincial government is expected to introduce legislation to provide TransLink with a new major revenue source beginning in 2028.

After higher hikes in 2025 and 2026, smaller annual fare increases of an average of two per cent are expected to return in 2027.

Simplified and standardized fare discounts

With the 2026 increase, for example, a one-zone adult monthly pass will now cost $117.20 — up from $111.60. A one-zone, single-trip fare will cost $3.50 with cash and $2.85 with the Compass Card’s stored value — up from $3.35 and $2.70, respectively.

Overall, single-trip fares paid with cash will go up by 10 to 25 cents for adults and five to 10 cents for concession, while Compass Card’s single-trip stored value fares will go up by 15 to 30 cents for adults and five to 10 cents for concession. Monthly passes will go up by $5.60 to $10.10 for adults and $3.15 for concessions.

Moving forward, fare discounts paid using the Compass Card’s stored value compared to cash payments will be simplified and standardized. Currently, there are some small inconsistencies between zones and fare types due to years of rounding fares to the nearest nickel. Instead, there will be a gradual phasing of discounts through 2028.

The changes will result in Compass Card’s adult stored value fares being 15 per cent lower than cash fares.

As well, concession stored value fares will be 20 per cent lower than adult stored value, concession day passes will be 20 per cent cheaper than adult day passes, and concession monthly passes will be 40 per cent lower than adult one-zone passes.

Similar changes will also be applied to the separate fares for the West Coast Express commuter rail line.

First-ever increase to the Canada Line’s YVR AddFare

Another major change that saw a preliminary green light last year and a final approval today is the first-ever fare increases to the Canada Line’s YVR AddFare for inbound trips that originate and leave Sea Island (travelling from YVR Airport, Sea Island, or Templeton stations to Vancouver/Richmond).

First introduced in 2010, shortly after the Canada Line opened in 2009, the YVR AddFare has not changed — maintained at $5.00, in addition to the zone-fare paid. Starting on Canada Day 2026, there will be a one-time increase of 30 per cent for YVR AddFare — rising by $1.50 from $5.00 to $6.50.

The YVR AddFare impacts a higher proportion of visitors to the region, as it only applies to single-trip fares. It is exempt for monthly pass holders, day pass and pre-purchased fares, U-Pass, BC Bus Pass, and CNIB passes.

This extra fare for some Canada Line users helps cover the original debt related to building the region’s third SkyTrain line.

translink 2026 fare increase

TransLink

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