Moving forward with a progressive transit fare structure

July 30, 2014

Dear City Council members;

Moving forward with a progressive transit fare structure

On behalf of Fair Fares and the Disability Action Hall we would like to thank City Council for your support of the sliding scale for all people based on income and need.   The sliding scale is a valuable tool which can be used for a discounted single ride and monthly and yearly fares.  We encourage City Council to ensure that the sliding scale is included in the Connect Card for July 2015. 

1. Why a sliding scale?

Calgary Transit is creating a Fare Strategy for all transit users.  There are many people under the age of 65 as well as people over the age of 65 who live on a fixed income due to disability, mental health issues, age which includes youth and seniors or circumstances beyond their control such as divorce or a life altering accident or medical condition.  Seniors living on low-income have a slightly higher income than someone living on AISH or Alberta Works yet seniors pay $1.25 per month and an AISH recipient pays $44.00 per month.  A sliding scale would be a much more equitable way to create a fair subsidy program for all people based on income not age. 

2. Why a new fare structure will improve the City’s Economic Well-being.

An equitable, accessible and affordable fare structure is imperative to ensure that all people across across the life span can access Calgary Transit, which is often their only lifeline to the community.   A progressive fare structure will help mobilize Calgarians thereby reducing isolation and loneliness; help people get a job, which will increase our tax payer base and help people get to appointments and volunteer opportunities.  Affordable transit will help people who are having a hard time making ends meet because they won’t have to choose between buying a transit pass or buying food and other necessities of life. 

3. Who administers the City’s Subsidy Programs?

We agree with council’s direction to have  Community Neighbourhood Services (CNS) administer the low-income subsidies for the City of Calgary.  CNS truly understands the root causes of poverty and has been working on the Fair Calgary policy and single entry since 2006.  CNS understands the systemic structural changes that are needed to ensure the City’s subsidies are easy to get, use and available to all citizens.

Great job City Council! 

A sliding scale and discounted single ride tickets are a step towards making our City great for everyone.    Please contact us for more information. 

Bonnie Pacaud 403-720-0204  bpacaud@mac.com

Colleen Huston 403-473-3510  actionhall@calgaryscope.org

FAIR FARES CALL TO ACTION Help us keep transit fares ‘affordable, accessible & fair’

FAIR FARES CALL TO ACTION
Help us keep transit fares ‘affordable, accessible & fair’

On July 28^th, 2014 Calgary City Council will vote on the recommendation by Calgary Transit to approve the proposed ‘Calgary Transit Fare Structure’ in revised attachment 3 for setting fare prices.

Fair Fares is recommending that City Council approve the following in order to make transit more affordable for all Calgarians living on low-income:

1.    A sliding scale for all Calgarians living on low-income regardless of age... 

To start at a much lower rate than the ‘Low-Income Transit Pass and that would be acceptable to people living on low-income as well as seniors.

2.  A new single ride fare discount at 50% of the regular adult fare... 

For seniors, youth and persons eligible for the low-income transit pass. The 50% discount for a single ride ticket will benefit people who cannot afford to purchase the low-income transit pass and will help mobilize Calgarians living in extreme poverty.

Demand fair, simple fares 

CALL YOUR COUNCILLOR AT 311 TO

SUPPORT AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND FAIR, FARES BEFORE

Monday, July 28^th, 2014

FAIR FARES DOES NOT SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING TWO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PROPOSED FARE STRATEGY and THE AMENDMENT (AS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENTS 1 and Attachment 3

1. We do not support 

“A NEW LOW-INCOME SENIORS OFF-PEAK ANNUAL PASS TO PERMIT TRANSIT BOARDING DURING ALL TIMES EXCLUDING 5:00 TO 9:00 AM AND 15:00 – 18:00 (3PM TO 6 PM) WEEKDAYS”

The off-peak hours limitations will severely restrict the time that a senior can take transit based on income and age and therefore limits their ability to access programs, classes, work and volunteer obligations.

2.We do not support 

“A NEW SENIORS PASS FOR SENIORS WITH INCOMES UNDER 100% LICO TO BE SET AT 50% OF THE REGULAR ADULT FARE.”   

This will mean that low-income seniors will pay the same price as the Low-Income Transit pass, which is currently $44.00 per month. This will be an increase of $42.75 per month from $1.25 per month that seniors now pay.  This recommendation will make the senior’s Low-Income Transit pass unaffordable for most seniors, just as the Low-Income Transit pass is unaffordable for most adults living on low-income). Instead we recommend the City implement a sliding scale for everyone living on low-income regardless of age.

We do not support 

The amendment to the fare structure that was presented at the Standing Policy Committee.  It states “ADMINISTRATION BE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SENIOR FARE DISCOUNTS FOR 2015 AND RETURN WITH A FARE STRATEGY (WITH A POSSIBLE TIER STRUCTURE)”

The amendment could potentially delay a much-needed single ride discounted fare, as the revenue from the increased senior fares could be directed towards the single ride discount.

Are transit fares simple & fair for Everyone?

Are transit fares simple and fair for Everyone? 

On Wednesday June 18th, 2014 Calgary Transit presented a review of its fare strategy to assist seniors and people on low-income to be able to afford transit. 

Council has asked Transit to come back to the committee on Friday, July 18th with a report of recommendations to also include a look at off-peak hour service for seniors. 

To see the July 18th report, visit this link. 

Concerns from Fair Fares:

Members from the public living on low-income simply stated even at the $ 44 a month, the pass is still too far out of reach for Calgarians, the monthly discounted transit pass is unaffordable. 

We support a single ride fare discount based at 50%. This will help people who cannot afford to pay out the costs of a discounted transit monthly pass. 

However the monthly pass fare structure is still not treating all persons living on low-income the same and the monthly pass is simply not affordable. 

We do not support off-peak hour service as it is problematic, hard to enforce and limits seniors mobility rights to access affordable transit at all hours of the day, 

Some City Councillors continue to direct transit to create inequities between seniors and people below the age of 65. We think this is not fair. 

Having two different discounted monthly and annual passes does not comply with the 2020 Sustainability Strategy trying to align and balance the fares and treat people the same. The deep discounts given to seniors and not also to people who live on low-income create inequality. 

Fair Fares plans on attending the Friday, July 18th committee meeting held in the basement of the old City Hall beginning at 9:30 am to speak about the updates  to the original June 18th report. 

If you would like to see a fare strategy that is fair and simple, please join us on Friday, July 18th beginning at 9:30 am or call 311 to register your concerns.