Bus fare hike while operation under reform
Bus fares in Macau will increase for the first time in more than 10 years, while the existing franchise regime will end.
Journeys within the Macau Peninsula will increase from MOP2.50 to MOP3.50, and those between the Macau Peninsula to the Islands will increase from between MOP3.30 to MOP5.00, to between MOP4.50 to MOP7.00.
Fares for journeys within the Islands will also increase from between MOP2.20 to MOP2.80, to between MOP3.00 to MOP4.00.
The Transport Affairs Bureau (DSAT) has started consultation with consumer bodies and associations.
Meanwhile, schemes to subsidise special groups of population will be expanded to students.
All full-time students studying in local schools and higher education institutions will be entitled to a concessionary bus fare of MOP1.50 per journey.
An estimated 85,000 students will benefit from the scheme.
The overall subsidary scheme, will cost the Government MOP250 million.
The DSAT indicated that it also has plans to further expand the scheme, so that all local residents will also be entitled to concession bus fares, although there is no timetable for this measure to be executed.
Provisional operation contracts will be signed between the Government and the two bus operators, Transmac and TCM, on 14 October.
Measures such as opening up route operations will be introduced incrementally in order to improve bus services in Macau.
On the other hand, the DSAT will adjust Macau’s existing bus routes to increase efficiency of the services.
It aims to increase the frequency of buses by 10% at normal times, and 20% at peak hours.
