Improving Thunder Bay bus service comes with a cost, but it means transit will become more convenient for passengers, says one city manager.

Brad Loroff, Thunder Bay Transit manager. (CBC)

Brad Loroff, the manager of the city's transit division, said offering riders new ways to pay — like a monthly pass, which can be bought online in three-month blocks — is a step in the right direction.

"There is a one-time realignment that is required to move the pricing structure to this new fare table that we're proposing,” he said.

The largest fare increases are for 10-ticket books and 20-ride passes, which will go up by $4 or $5.

Thunder Bay Transit’s supervisor of transit said those passengers shouldn't be hit too hard.

"This is someone who would not take transit often enough to make it worth their while to buy a monthly pass,” Catherine Aubut said.

“So, it's the person who might take it twice a week."

She acknowledged the increases to the 10- and 20-pass prices, will be felt the most by social agencies that give people “tickets in order to get them to the meeting and to get them back home.”

A single cash fare will also go up by five cents a ride. All of these changes — which are part of a five-year plan to revitalize bus ridership in the city — will take effect on April 1.