Saskatoon’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation reported an estimated $67,800 revenue loss as a result of passenger escapes Transit Rent in 2022.
Transit operators are trained to record fare evasion of commuters if they are not paying when transit fareboxes are working.
In 2022, 20,705 cases of fare evasion were reported, with the highest Confederation MallWhere no transit ticket is sold.
“We must meet them halfway if we don’t want them to avoid the fare,” said the count. David Kirton.
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City transit operators are not permitted to confront a passenger and enforce a fare if payment is not offered.
“I would suggest that we need to sell tickets at the mall when there is a terminal at the mall,” Kirton said. “People wouldn’t expect to walk a block to get a ticket.”
The Transit Committee said they would look into the idea of making ticketing more accessible to commuters.
If the rent box is not workable, the rent is only considered unpaid, not forfeited. Unpaid fares due to obsolete fare boxes still cost Saskatoon Transit nearly $165,000 in 2022.
The committee pointed out that the number of tax evasion and unpaid rent increased in the last three months of the year.
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It was stated by the committee that a report will come out in the next few months which will provide information on the number of negative interactions between transit operators and passengers.
“There are cases some of the incidents are related to disputes over fare collection,” said Terry Schmidt, the city’s transportation general manager.
“My concern is not revenue,” Kirton said. “My concern is the potential for the safety of operators or transit riders.”
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