Fares and Passes

Thunder Bay Transit fare increases, as approved through the City's 2026 Budget process, come into effect on April 1, 2026.

Thunder Bay Transit operates a fleet of 48 accessible buses, seven days a week, covering more than 2.8 million kilometers annually. LIFT+ provides door-to-door transportation for persons with disabilities who may be unable to use conventional transit services.

Transit Services has a number of fare payment options available for you to choose from. All fares can be used on Thunder Bay Transit and LIFT+ Specialized Transit.

For fares and more information, see the information below:

Transit fares - Effective April 1, 2026


Fare Type	Cost
Cash	$3.25
10 Ride Multipass	$29.80
Single Rider Day Pass (unlimited rides for the day)1	$9.60
Adult Monthly Pass	$92.65
Discount Monthly Pass	$76.50
Senior Monthly Pass	$63.90
Youth Monthly Pass	$63.90
Senior Annual Pass	$570.80
Taxi Scrip	$35.00
Reloadable Smart Card - Lift Pass	$5.00
Children (aged 12 and under)	Free with a Lift Pass Card2
Support Person	Free

1. Available only at the Transit Office - 570 Fort William Rd.

2. Children age 5 and under do not require a Lift Pass card. Children age 6-12 require a Lift Pass Card.

Where to Buy/Reload Lift Pass Card

New Lift Pass cards can be purchased at the Transit Administration Office, City Hall, or a select retailer.

If you require a Youth, Senior, or Discount Pass, proof of eligibility is required to obtain your card. You must get your Lift Pass card from the Transit Administration Office.

Effective April 1, 2024, the single rider day pass is available at the Transit Administration Office only.

Transit customer service and administration at 570 Fort William Road is open to the public Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For your desired outlet you may wish to call ahead to confirm hours of operation and accessibility features.

Lift Pass cards can be reloaded online with a Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, or Debit Mastercard.

Retail Outlets

Pass Type Available	New Card	Reload
Adult Monthly	Yes	Yes
Youth Monthly	No	Yes
Senior Monthly	No	Yes
Discount Monthly	No	Yes
10-Ride Multi-pass	Yes	Yes
Blank Card (Adult or 10-Ride Multi-pass)	Yes	Yes

Outlet Locations	Address	Phone Number
Arella's Quality Dollar & Import Store	292 Bay Street	(807) 344-3234
Shoppers Drug Mart - McIntyre Centre	1186 Memorial Ave	(807) 623-3601
Skaf's Just Basics	470 Hodder Ave	(807) 683-3930
Transit Services Administration Office	570 Fort William Rd	(807) 684-3744
City Hall - Main Floor	500 Donald St E	(807) 625-2230
Seasons Gift Shop	980 Oliver Rd.	(807) 684-6717
Lakehead University Student Union	SC0001 - 955 Oliver Rd.	(807)343-8259

Fare conditions

Cash Fare and Tickets

You can only pay exact cash, Operators are not able to provide you with change. Tickets will never expire.

Children

Children aged 12 and under ride for free. Children age 6-12 ride for free, however they will require a Lift Pass. Parents and/or guardians are solely responsible for ensuring their children can independently use the transit system before permitting their child to travel unattended when using Thunder Bay Transit services.

Fare Fraud

Fare fraud is a serious criminal offence. If you use a pass fraudulently, an Operator may confiscate it. In the event of a disagreement, you must pay the cash fare and contact Transit Services.

Lost or Stolen ID Cards and Transit Passes

Transit is not responsible for lost or stolen ID cards or bus passes.

Monthly Passes

Monthly passes are good for the calendar month shown on the front of the pass. Monthly passes are available by age.

Youth - 13-24 years old
Adult - 25-59 years old
Senior - 60 years and over

Discount passes can be purchased and used if you have a valid Transit Accessibility ID card or a Lift+ ID card.

Single Rider Day Pass

Day Passes offer unlimited rides for a travel day.

Day Passes can be purchased from the Transit Administration Office located at 570 Fort William Rd

Ontario Seniors Tax Credit

Effective July 1, 2017, the Ontario Government has introduced a refundable tax credit for Ontario seniors aged 65 and over. The tax credit applies to public transit services, including Thunder Bay Transit and Lift+ Specialized Transit. Fares eligible for the tax credit include tickets, monthly passes, and annual passes. Only cash fares on specialized transit are eligible. To claim the tax credit, you must have an itemized receipt and the pass if available. For more information, visit the Government of Ontario website.

Transfers

You may request a transfer if you pay the fare with cash. A transfer is valid for ninety (90) minutes from the time it is issued and must be requested when you board the bus.

If you pay the fare with a Lift Pass, a ninety (90) minute transfer is automatically stored onto your Lift Pass card.

Discount Lift Pass

To obtain a Discount Lift Pass, you will have to provide proof of your disability with a doctor's letter, ODSP statement, or CRA disability tax credit statement. Discount Lift Passes must first be activated at the Transit Office, and can then be reloaded online or at select outlets. Discount Lift Passes are valid for 3 years.

Senior Annual Pass

The annual pass gives you twelve (12) months for the price of nine (9) and is only available for purchase at Transit Services. It is valid January 1^st to December 31^st for the year it is issued and is available for sale November 1^st to March 31^st.

Support Person

A support person can travel with you free of charge on both of our services. An ID card issued by Transit Services that shows that a support person is required is mandatory. You have to complete a support person application form for Lift+ or a support person application form for Thunder Bay Transit. Bring your completed form to Transit Services.

Taxi Scrips

If you are an active Lift+ passenger, you can purchase Taxi Scrips that allow for a 30% cost savings off the metered fare of a taxi. You must have a valid Lift+ ID card. You are responsible for calling and booking your own taxis.

Affordable Bus Pass Program

Affordable Bus Pass

The Affordable Bus Pass program is a pilot program intended to address income-based barriers and assist households in accessing more affordable Thunder Bay transit services. The affordable bus pass program allows each participant to purchase one (1) Adult Monthly Bus Pass at half price per month. There is a limited number of participants each year. Applications are approved on a first come, first served basis. Once the program limit has been met, applications will no longer be accepted.

Eligibility

To qualify for the Affordable Bus Pass program, you must meet all the following criteria:

You live in the City of Thunder Bay
Have income at or below the income limits identified on the application form and listed below
You are between the ages of 25-59
Currently not receiving transit assistance through Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or the Passport Program (DSO)
Agree to take part in surveys to evaluate the pilot program

Income limits

Approval is based on need, using the Statistics Canada Low Income Cut Off numbers after tax (LICO) measures + 20% for the City of Thunder Bay. Combined household income must be equal to or lower than the amounts listed below based on household size:

1 individual - $24,708

2 individuals - $30,072

3 individuals - $37,446

4 individuals - $46,716

5 individuals - $53,196

6 individuals - $58,996

7+ individuals - $64,796

How to Apply

Thunder Bay Transit has partnered with Lakehead Social Planning Council (LSPC) to administer the program. Applications are available through LSPC's website.

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Once approved, how and where do I get my bus pass?

Show your approval letter or I.D to purchase your Affordable Bus Pass at the Thunder Bay Transit Administration Office located at 570 Fort William Road. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

When can I purchase a monthly bus pass?

For the current month, the affordable bus pass can be purchased Monday to Friday 8:30-4:30 on any day of the month
Starting on the 15th of each month you can purchase the following months bus pass

For example you can purchase an April monthly pass as early as March 15th

Who can purchase passes?

Approved applicants of the Affordable Bus Pass program can purchase one (1) adult monthly pass each month
Any approved household member may purchase the affordable bus pass for other approved members living in their household.

Please note: There is a limit to one (1) affordable bus pass for each approved member of the household per month.

Can I purchase the Affordable Bus Pass at an Outlet?

No, the affordable bus pass must be purchased at the main transit office at 570 Fort William Rd.

I've lost my pass, can I get a new one?

No, there is only one (1) pass available each month per approved household member.

How long does the Program Run?

Approved applicants will be enrolled in the program until December 31st of the year you are approved. For example, if you are approved for the program in 2023, you will be allowed to purchase a monthly bus pass each month at the reduced rate for each remaining month in the year.

When can I apply?

Applications will be accepted throughout the year until the program limit is reached
Applications for the following year will be accepted beginning November 1.
- For example, beginning November 1, 2023 we will be accepting applications for the 2024 program year

Why was my application rejected?

Applications may be rejected for the following reasons:

Combined household income is not below the cut off
You already receive transit funding/subsidy through:
- Ontario Works (OW)
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Passport Program (DSO)
Program has reached max capacity, please re-apply in November for the following calendar year
Information in the application was falsified
Your application is incomplete (eg. not signed, missing proof of household income, missing proof of Thunder Bay residency)

Letters are sent to applicants by LSPC regarding the acceptance/rejection of their application with one or more of the reasons identified.

My application was rejected, can I reapply next year?

If your situation changes and you meet the criteria of the program, or if the participant limit was reached when you first applied, you may re-apply as early as November 1 for the following year.

I was approved in one year, does this mean I am automatically approved every year?

No, you are not automatically re-enrolled for the following year. You may re-apply beginning November 1.

Who should I contact with questions?

General program detail questions - Contact 211 at 2-1-1

Application questions - Contact LSPC at (807) 624-1726