Passenger bus and urban transit in Canada, 2019

Release date: September 22, 2021
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Infographic: Passenger bus and urban transit in Canada, 2019
Description: Passenger bus and urban transit in Canada, 2019

In 2019, the transit industry in Canada was comprised of:

  • 96 urban transit companies
  • 12 inter-city bus companies
  • 151 charter and sightseeing bus companies
  • 420 school and employee bus companies

In 2019, urban transit companies accounted for almost three-quarters of the industry's $15.3 billion in operating revenue.

  • Urban transit companies = 74%
  • School and employee bus companies = 17%
  • Inter-city bus companies = 2%
  • OtherNote 1 = 7%

Total operating revenue earned by urban transit companies reached $11.2 billion, up 8% from 2018.


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 2018 and 2019 (appearing as column headers).
2018 2019
Operating revenue $10.4 billion $11.2 billion
Subsidies $5.3 billion $6.0 billion
Operating expenses $11.1 billion $12.1 billion
Capital expenses $9.4 billion $9.0 billion

The pandemic put considerable financial pressure on urban transit companies as operating revenues plummeted to a low of $49.4 million in May 2020, down 85% from May 2019.Note 2


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Canada (appearing as row headers), Total revenue, excluding subsidies and Total passenger trips, calculated using (dollar x1,000,000) and (number x1,000,000) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Canada Total revenue, excluding subsidies Total passenger trips
(dollar x1,000,000) (number x1,000,000)
Jan-19 349.8 160.9
Feb-19 334.7 153.8
Mar-19 341.1 164.7
Apr-19 336.9 157.3
May-19 336.2 155.3
Jun-19 331.1 151.8
Jul-19 342.2 147.4
Aug-19 342.3 146.2
Sep-19 369.0 164.0
Oct-19 365.6 169.2
Nov-19 359.3 164.8
Dec-19 338.7 153.3
Jan-20 365.9 163.9
Feb-20 349.9 161.2
Mar-20 236.4 88.5
Apr-20 56.3 25.7
May-20 49.4 28.4
Jun-20 70.4 38.5
Jul-20 108.9 53.8
Aug-20 124.5 55.5
Sep-20 143.2 62.9
Oct-20 139.8 58.4
Nov-20 142.8 58.1
Dec-20 130.9 54.2
Jan-21 117.2 47.9
Feb-21 116.4 48.3
Mar-21 124.7 53.6
Apr-21 124.6 52.4
May-21 120.5 51.0
Jun-21 126.6 53.7
Jul-21 141.1 59.7

In 2019, the average salary for drivers in urban transit companies was $71,507

In 2019, the average salary for mechanics and other employeesNote 3 in urban transit companies was $66,836

Urban transit systems are shifting from diesel buses to more sustainable forms of energy.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Fuel consumption (x1000) (appearing as row headers), 2015, 2019 and Percentage change (appearing as column headers).
Fuel consumption (x1000) 2015 2019 Percentage change
Diesel (litres) 591,377 562,621 -4.90%
Gasoline (litres) 4,371 11,957 173.60%
Other fuel (litres) 6,988 21,357 205.60%
Electricity (kilowatts) 813,551 972,049 19.50%

Source: Statistics Canada, Annual Passenger Bus and Urban Transit Survey and Monthly Passenger Bus and Urban Transit Survey.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

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