Photo credit: TransLink
METRO VANCOUVER — Commuters relying on transit to travel from the Tri-Cities to downtown Vancouver will soon need to dig a little deeper into their wallets.
TransLink has announced an average system-wide fare increase of 5% taking effect on July 1, 2026. While the hike impacts riders across the transit network, residents of Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam who travel to downtown Vancouver for work or school will feel a significant pinch to their monthly transit budgets.
Because of the distance, a commute from the Tri-Cities to downtown Vancouver requires a 3-Zone fare. For daily SkyTrain and bus riders, the cost of an Adult 3-Zone Monthly Pass will jump by over $10. Currently priced at $201.55, the pass will rise to $211.65.
For passengers seeking the faster, premium service of the West Coast Express (WCE), the price hike is even steeper. Travelling from Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Central, or Moody Centre stations to Waterfront Station is classified as a 3-Zone WCE trip. The Adult Monthly Pass for this route will jump by $11.85, bringing the new total to $248.75 per month, up from the current $236.90.
TransLink states that the July 1 increases are necessary "to help TransLink continue to provide essential transit services and keep Metro Vancouver moving."
It's not just adult commuters who will be paying more; concession fares are also seeing an adjustment:
Regular Transit (Youth/Seniors): The all-zone Concession Monthly Pass will increase by $3.15, rising from $63.80 to $66.95.
West Coast Express (Youth/Seniors): The 3-Zone WCE Concession Monthly Pass will increase by $3.00, going from $146.35 to $149.35.
While children 12 and under will continue to ride for free on all TransLink services, families and professionals in the Tri-Cities should prepare to adjust their July budgets. Those relying on the West Coast Express or the Millennium Line for their daily Vancouver commute will be contributing the highest premium to keep the region's transit network funded.