Letters of Support Needed July 6 to Support Sliding Scale on Transit

 Call Out for Letters of Support for a Sliding Fee Scale for the Low-Income Transit Pass

 

Letters of support to expand and deepen the discounts for the Low-Income Transit Pass are needed by July 6^th, 2016.  

The City of Calgary has looked a options on how to set transit fares on ability to pay. They will present their report to the City’s Community and Protective Services Standing Policy Committee on July 6^th.  

A show of community support for a sliding fee scale for the Low-Income Transit pass could help the Councillor’s decision. 

Did you know? The Province has allocated $ 4.5 million annually for the next three years to Calgary’s Low-Income Transit pass. 
A sliding scale will help more Calgarians afford the bus based on ability to pay. 

Fair Calgary Community Voices is asking the City of Calgary 

to match the Province’s funding 

and create a sliding fee scale to replace the single price fare of $44.00

(currently being used for 

the Low-Income Transit Pass)  

A sliding fee scale will:

• Make the City’s Low-Income Transit pass fair and equitable for all people living on low-income.
• Make the Low-Income Transit pass more affordable for all people living on low-income including those living in extreme poverty. 
• Increase the ceiling for the Low-Income Transit Pass to 30% above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for people whose income is slightly above LICO yet still live in poverty. This will prevent people from falling deeper into poverty because of the increasing cost of living in Calgary.
• Assist Calgarians who are impacted by the economic downturn and who can no longer afford the $ 44 monthly transit pass.
• Assist more people living on low-income to secure employment and connect to communities.

A Sliding fee scale aligns with: 

• The “Enough for all Strategy” (a poverty elimination plan), 
• Sustainability 2020 and 
• City of Calgary Action Plan and priorities of “Creating a city that moves, greener communities, a well-run city, a prosperous community and a city of Inspiring neighbourhoods.”

Fair Calgary Community Voices is asking citizens to share their stories on July 6^th at the Standing Policy Committee or write letters to City Councillors

Send a letter to City Council 

Feel free to send us a copy of your letter by emailing us!

More links: 

• 2015 Sliding fee scale report, please visit this link: http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=37477
• Enough for All Strategy and how it aligns with sliding fee scale, please visit this link http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=37477
• City of Calgary Action Plan and Council Priorities visit http://www.calgary.ca/CA/FS/Pages/Action-Plan/Council-Priorities.aspx