From June 13, new fares for public transport come into force in Ternopil. The decision to change the cost of trips was made by the executive committee of the Ternopil City Council. The main feature of the new regulation is the equalization of prices: now the fare is the same in both municipal and private transport.
Economic justification for the price increase
Officials explained the need to review fares based on the actual costs of carriers. According to calculations conducted by the city administration, the economically justified cost of a single bus ride at the moment is 26.7 hryvnias, and for a trolleybus — 31.6 hryvnias. These figures formed the basis of the new pricing.
It is important to note that when making the decision, the proposals of the city's residents expressed during public discussions were taken into account. In particular, thanks to feedback from citizens, the fare for owners of the "Social Card of a Ternopil Resident" was reduced from the initially proposed 20 hryvnias to 19 hryvnias per trip. The Ternopil City Council emphasized that this measure is aimed at maintaining the accessibility of transport for city residents.
Concessions and social cards
Despite the change in fares, the system of concessions in the city remains extensive. Free travel is preserved for 29 categories of the population entitled to social preferences. Special conditions also apply to schoolchildren and students of the Ternopil community.
Significant savings can be obtained with the "Social Card of a Ternopil Resident". This electronic ticket can be obtained not only by permanent residents but also by people who work or study within the city. An application for the card can be submitted online via the "e-Ternopil" mobile application.
Unique "Single Ticket" system
Ternopil remains the only city in Ukraine where the "Single Ticket" service operates. This system allows passengers to make an unlimited number of transfers within 30 minutes. The ticket is valid on all types of public transport — both municipal and private, including buses and trolleybuses.
The introduction of new fares in Ternopil is taking place against the backdrop of discussions about similar changes in other regions. Thus, in Kyiv, an increase in the cost of travel is also planned from July 15, where a single trip may cost up to 30 hryvnias, and a monthly unlimited pass — up to 4,875 hryvnias. Nevertheless, in Ternopil, the authorities focused on balancing economic expediency and the accessibility of services for the population.