Burlington, Ont., considers making transit free for all, after reducing fares for youth, seniors

As Burlington, Ont., explores the possibility of offering free public transit, the city is seeking input from residents about the proposal.

The city council has instructed its transit service to investigate the feasibility of fare-free public transit and report their findings by the end of this year. The consulting firm Left Turn Right Turn has been hired to conduct this analysis, with a report expected later this year.

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, in an interview with CBC Hamilton, noted that if the initiative goes forward, Burlington would not be the first Ontario city to do so. Orangeville is currently piloting a two-year program that began in January 2023.

"I’m an avid transit user myself and believe that transit is more than just transportation—it’s a way for people to engage with our community," Meed Ward said.

“We know that reducing or eliminating fares is one of the most effective ways to encourage people to use transit.”

The city is also inviting public feedback on the idea. A survey, which opened on August 26 and will close on September 15, is aimed at gathering community opinions on free transit.

"The goal of this study is to gauge the community’s views on fare-free transit and to understand what our residents want," said Catherine Baldelli, the City of Burlington’s director of transit.

Free Transit Already in Place for Certain Groups

In recent years, Burlington has experimented with fare-free transit for specific groups, including youths and seniors.

The city first introduced free transit for seniors during off-peak hours in 2019, leading to a 41 percent increase in senior ridership, according to the city's website.

Last year, Burlington extended free transit to youth during evenings and weekends and made it available to seniors at all times.

Meed Ward indicated that extending fare-free transit to everyone is feasible due to the city's prior experience with these programs.

"It's not as drastic as going from a pay system to a completely free system all at once, which would have been challenging for any municipality. But that's not where we are," she said.

Baldelli noted that Burlington Transit ridership has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with over three million trips recorded throughout 2023.

Meed Ward also mentioned that the funding for free transit could be supplemented by the province’s gas tax program, which is based on transit ridership and population. She noted that these details will be addressed by the consultants.

"Now is the time to consider creative solutions," said Dan Hendry, project director of "Get on the Bus," a nationwide initiative encouraging youth transit use. He added that other Ontario cities, including Kingston and Barrie, have also explored free transit options for young people.

Hendry emphasized that reducing car usage is essential for addressing climate change.

"Encouraging more public transit use and simultaneously electrifying transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a significant contribution to climate solutions," he said.

Baldelli stated that the council will make a decision on implementing free transit once the report is completed and expressed enthusiasm about the study.

"It could be transformational, but I’m keeping an open mind," she said.