Translink's CEO has a message for people who use the system, brace for more and more buses to pass on by because they are too full.
Ian Jarvis says the transit utility is now working with a shrinking pool of money.
"There is no doubt that with increased pressures relative to our finances at some point in time, in the future not in the next couple of years not in the near future, that we are going to have to cut service."
Jarvis says there is no question as long as no new funding comes in, the level of transit service will be impacted.
"We have adequate funding for the next two years, and we are working on updating for another year, to provide the services that are out there today. But with no ability to respond to growth, and there is a demand for more people where transit options are more of a choice, that we are going to have difficulty serving that level of demand."
Jarvis isn't mincing words, saying he expects bus pass ups not only to continue but likely to also get worse.
"We continue to do everything we can to reallocate our existing resources to those particular corridors to serve more customers but it will continue to, in terms of being able to meet that demand, it will become more of a challenge."
Even though it is about a month away Jarvis is already warning transit users to brace for the September "crush" as a new school year resumes, and students pour into the bus system.
A referendum over a transit funding model could be held as early as the spring of next year.