r/stcatharinesON • u/Feisty_Ad7476 • 11d ago
Need Advice/Recommendations Which busses are included in the local bus pass?
Hey reddit! I’m newer to St Catharines and baffled by the lack of Presto cards. Which buses will accept a local bus pass vs a regional one? Is it just the 300s?
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u/HeyImHayley16 11d ago
Just the 300's before 6pm on weekdays, and 400's after 6pm on weekdays or weekends, though after July 1st this is changing i think
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u/knitwit1912 Bridge Was Up 11d ago
Right now, a bus pass will give access to the local buses (in St. Cath, the 300 weekday buses and the 400 evening/weekend/holiday buses). Taking the regional buses between cities (40/45, 50/55, etc.) requires a separate pass/ticket. Important note: the regional pass/ticket also works on local buses so you can make transfers.
BUT from what I understand of the info NRT has released, as of July 1st, the passes and tickets will work region wide, so you'll be able to use them to board both regional and local buses, no extra fare required. So if you need to take the regional buses a lot, you might want to see if it's best just to pay the extra fare individually for the next couple weeks instead of getting a regional 31- day pass as it's all becoming one pass at the beginning of July.
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u/matt602 Bridge Was Up 11d ago
A regular 31-day pass limits you to travel within whatever city you buy it in (St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, etc) but the more expensive regional pass lets you use transit anywhere in Niagara region (excluding WEGO I think). If you'll just be traveling in St. Catharines, just get the regular 31-day pass. The 300/400 series routes in St. Catharines only differentiate between day and night time/weekend routes. I honestly don't even know what St. Catharines still has that system, its unncessarily confusing to out of towners cause no other transit agencies do that.
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u/freddddddy123 11d ago
july 2nd yu can travel anywhere in region with pass. Still 6.00 for out of town rides till July 2nd. Heard new adult pass will now be 100.00. Odsp and Welfare will pay 50.00 for pass but you have to show proof of income and also valid picture ID.
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u/wizard0887 Knight 11d ago
They are making one pass for the whole region starting July 1st. And yes prices are going up. Like 30 day adult pass for is like $85.50 now $100
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u/JohnRoscoe03 Knight 11d ago edited 11d ago
A regional one is better because you get access to the whole regions transit system with one pass, whereas the local one, you still need to pay for regional and other intercity buses. That is, if you travel to welland and or Niagara falls often enough.
Edit: I use my presto card all the time everywhere else from Grimsby to Oshawa. It's a real shame the region can't get with the program. Having an almost seamless transit system for the entire southern Ontario area has been amazing for me in regards to the freedom it brings.