Off-peak public transport fares will be cut in half to encourage social distancing.
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The temporary half-price offer will be in place for three months and applies to buses and light rail as well.
After that time, there will be an across-the-board 30 per cent off-peak discount.
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Bus and light rail peak-hour trips of less than three kilometres will go up to encourage people to walk or cycle for short distances.
Other peak fares will remain unchanged.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he'd opted not to take the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal advice to raise fares.
"We've waived the usual CPI increase and have rejected recommendations by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal to increase Opal fares by 20 per cent over four years," Mr Constance said.
"The vast majority of commuters will benefit from these changes with either cheaper travel or no change to their fares. A third of commuters will save an average of $3.60 a week based on current travel patterns."
A peak-hour Wollongong-Sydney trip will still cost $8.86 from next month, while making that trip off-peak falls from $6.20 to $4.43.
A new $8.05 all day travel cap will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday, to spread weekend public transport loads.
Existing Opal benefits like daily and weekly travel caps and the transfer discount remain unchanged.
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