Acadian Lines Applies To Amend License and Fares

UTILITY/REVIEW BOARD--Acadian Lines Applies To Amend License and Fares

Acadian Intercity Coaches LP and Acadian Coach Lines LP have applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for changes to their licenses and fares.

The companies are asking that their existing fare structures be replaced by pricing based on 52 "zones of distance." Each zone contains 25 kilometres distance. The 52 zones will cover destinations from 1 kilometre to 1299.9 kilometres.

The fares attached to each zone are based on a calculated price per kilometre by zone of distance, resulting in the concept that the more distance consumers travel the less they pay per kilometre of travel.

This strategy increases the price of a number of the existing adult one-way fares, however, it also reduces the price of several existing adult one-way fares under the current rate structure of Acadian.

The application says:

• Each zone will have a specific retail price attached to it;
• The price represents the adult one-way fare pricing, exclusive of taxes;
• All origins/destinations having the same distance will then have the same basic price;
• Fares are rounded to the nearest dollar amount;
• Base fares will start at $6 for an adult one-way fare and reach a maximum of $100;
• The zone of distance pricing structure will commence with a cost per kilometre of $0.2410 for a 24.9 km trip in Zone 1 moving incrementally down to a cost per km of $0.0769 for a 1299.9 kilometre trip in Zone 52.

The fares between points in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will have the Confederation Bridge cost of $7 per crossing shown separately.

The proposed fares will result in an increase in gross revenue of about four per cent for Acadian, assuming existing ridership continues with the same volumes.

The application also says adult customers will receive a 15 per cent discount when purchasing a two-way trip and that tickets will not have an expiration date.

Under the proposed fare structure Seniors Club 60 and students with valid ID cards will receive a 15 per cent discount on one- way trips and a further 15 per cent discount for two-way trips. Thirteen- to 17-year-olds will automatically be qualified as students upon presentation of an ID card and birth date. Students 18 years and older will have to present a school ID card of the current year to qualify for student status.

Children under 5 years of age will pay a flat fee of $5 and be guaranteed a seat despite any distance they may travel when travelling with a person paying full adult fare. Five- to 12- year-olds will receive a discount of 40 per cent on one-way trips, and a further 15 per cent discount for two-way trips.

A hearing into the proposed amendments will be held on Wednesday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the Cumberland Room, Wandlyn Inns, 1539 Southampton Rd. in Amherst.

Anyone wishing to present evidence or to cross-examine witnesses must file notice with the board no later than Wednesday, June 8.

Members of the board will conduct telephone conference calls with anyone wishing to make comments about the proposed amendments who is unable to attend the hearing in Amherst. Conference calls must be arranged on or before Wednesday, June 1 by contacting the board at 902-424-4448 and providing your name and telephone number. Long distance charges will be the responsibility of the applicant.

Anyone wishing to make comments about the proposed amendments may also do so by forwarding a letter to the Clerk of the Board at Box 1692, Unit M, Halifax, N.S. B3J 3S3; by e-mail to [email protected] ; by fax at 902-424-3919 or by calling the clerk at 902-424-4448.

Further information about the proposed amendments can be obtained from:

• the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, public passenger division, 902-424-3588;
• the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board clerk's office, 902- 424-4448
• John Stringer, McInnes Cooper, 902-424-1361 or e-mail at: [email protected] .