The ACT government has revealed it will halve public transport monthly fare caps from April 8, delivering targeted cost-of-living relief as rising fuel prices continue to reshape travel behaviour across Canberra.
The temporary measure, in place until June 30, reduces the number of paid trips required before passengers travel free, effectively lowering the cost of regular bus and light rail use.
The change is expected to drive increased patronage as more commuters shift away from private vehicles in response to fuel price pressures.
Under the revised structure, adult fare caps drop from 40 to 20 paid trips per month, limiting total monthly travel costs to $68.20.
Student and concession passengers benefit even further, with caps reduced to as few as 15 trips, unlocking free travel earlier in the month and significantly lowering weekly travel costs.
The policy effectively increases the number of passengers travelling free once the cap is reached, creating a stronger incentive to use buses and light rail for daily commuting, education and local trips.
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ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the move is designed to balance cost relief with demand management across the transport network.
“While local fuel supply remains secure, today’s announcement reducing monthly fare caps on public transport is about managing demand sensibly while supporting public transport users,” he says.
The announcement comes alongside broader national measures, including the halving of the federal fuel excise, highlighting the growing role of public transport in managing both cost pressures and fuel demand.
ACT Treasurer and minister for transport Chris Steel says the initiative is designed to deliver immediate financial relief while encouraging behavioural change.
“With rising fuel prices putting more pressure on Canberra households, the ACT government is taking action to deliver sensible cost of living relief by halving the public transport fare cap,” Steel says.
Steel says regular commuters stand to benefit most, with potential savings of up to $68 per month, while students can access free travel after just 15 trips.
The measure also aligns with longer-term policy objectives, including reducing congestion, managing peak demand and supporting the transition to more sustainable transport modes.
The increase in patronage will place additional pressure on service capacity, particularly during peak periods and will require careful network management to maintain reliability.
The ACT government has indicated that it will continue to monitor fuel market conditions and may introduce further measures if global supply pressures persist.
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