Bus riders in York Region, including those in Aurora, will pay more for transit starting July 1, 2026, as fares go up by 3 percent. The increase is the third in a row for York Region Transit, and it was part of the 2026 budget passed by York Regional Council in November 2025.
The higher fares are meant to help cover rising operating costs from high inflation and to keep services running across the region’s nine municipalities. YRT aims to recover about 40 percent of its costs from fares, with the rest coming from property taxes and senior government funding. Right now, fare revenue is below that target.
For adults using a PRESTO card, the per-ride cost will move from $4.12 to $4.24. Cash, credit, and debit payments will rise from $4.50 to $4.65. Youth fares on PRESTO go from $3.19 to $3.29, while senior and child fares each climb from $2.52 to $2.60. Children five and under still ride free. The latest fare chart is posted online so riders can check before July.
YRT says riders looking to save can use several programs. A PRESTO card already offers discounted fares compared to cash. The Fare Capping program lets adults ride free after 40 trips in a month, and the Transit Assistance Program gives a 50 percent discount for eligible residents. The Ride to GO feature also allows free YRT trips when connecting to a GO Transit service.
Money from the fare bump will go toward service upgrades. Plans include buying more electric buses with help from the federal Zero-Emission Transit Fund, boosting how often buses run on popular routes through the Frequent Transit Network, and expanding On-Request service in neighbourhoods with little or no current transit coverage. YRT, which serves Aurora and all other York Region communities, notes that the 2024 increase was the first since 2019, ending a stretch of frozen fares during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2026 hike marks the third straight year of increases. Regular riders may want to look over the updated prices now to avoid any surprise at the fare box this summer.
