Learn about Fair Calgary Community Voices Website

Fair Fares is an advocacy group that focuses on keeping public transit affordable. 

Fair Fares is also part of a larger group called "Fair Calgary Community Voices." 

Fair Calgary Communityexpanded its vision to "Great transit for all" based on the principles for public transit to be affordable, accessible, connected, and convenient. 

To learn more about Fair Calgary Community Voices, visit   https://fairfaresyyc.wixsite.com/transit4all

Fair Fares wishes to keep this site active for people to learn the history of Fair Fares and how the sliding scale and low-income transit pass work came to be. 

For the latest information about the low-income transit pass, Calgary Transit does a great job updating how to get the pass-through Fair Entry and where to buy it. 

Visit this link 

https://www.calgarytransit.com/content/transit/en/home/fares---passes/passes/low-income-monthly-pass.html

Increases to Calgary's sliding scale fares beyond 2020 to fix $6.5 million funding gap

The Alberta government has renewed the $4.5 million partnership agreement to continue funding the sliding scale for the next four years. 

However, Calgary Transit report says the sliding scale still has a $6.5 million funding gap.  City administration suggests increases to sliding scale fares:  

↑ Band A to go from $5.30 to $18.55 (250% increase)

↑ Band B to go from $36.05 to $43.60

↑ Band C to go from $51.50 to $59.95

Proposed Transit Pass Fare Increases for 2020 for
YYC Budget Talks Beginning November 25, 2019

If you are concerned about these increases we encourage you to share this with your City Councillor. The proposed budget changes may be released next week.

City Council begins budget debates on Monday, November 25th.

Link to report for Calgary's long term funding plan

Update on transit summit and sliding scale efforts for Calgary beyond 2019

Transit Summit: 

More than 60 people share their concerns, ideas, and feedback on how we can make "Public Transit"  great in Calgary that is connected, accessible, affordable and convenient.  

As promised to share the raw data from the conversation.

16-page document set in PDF format 

If you have difficulties accessing it, please let us know. 

Provincial Agreement Renewed: 

The Province renewed a 4.5 million operational agreement with the City of Calgary for the next 4 years. Provincial Announcement that the 4-year agreement has been renewed October 22^nd, 2019.

Additional Updates, speaking with standing policy committee: 

There remains a 6.5 million shortfall to keep the sliding going in Calgary. 

Many people spoke to the report requested by the Council on how the City can help keep affordable fares within the sliding scale sustainable. 

The report was presented on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 to the Standing Policy Committee called "Transit and Transportation."

We wish to express our gratitude for sharing letters of support and for those who had the time to attend the committee meeting. 

If interested, here are the October 23rd, minutes from the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Transit and Transportation (T&T).

The next steps are these recommendations still need to be approved by the entire City Council at a later date. 

 Minutes for Standing Policy for Transit and Transportation October 23rd, 2019.

Next Steps, Municipal Budget for 2020 and beyond:

1. Mayor Nenshi responds to the Alberta Budget and how the decreasing/delaying provincial funding impacts Calgarians ttps://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/funding-for-cities-takes-a-significant-hit-in-first-ucp-budget  

The Mayor also highlights the impact on capital projects and operations like the green line. "The city had been expecting $555 million for the Green Line over the next four years. Thursday, the province announced the city will be receiving just $75 million. The remainder of the $1.53 billion will come in future years, the province said." 

  

2. We will be busy preparing for the Council budget which is tentatively scheduled for public input on Monday, November 25th, 2019. 

Have your say Wednesday Oct 23rd on the Sliding Scale Long-Term Funding Report

Calgary Transit was asked by City Council to explore different funding options to keep the sliding-scale going beyond 2019. 

To read the entire report, begin on page 29 of the TT2019-1044 item 7.2

Join us

 

Wednesday, October 23rd 

Beginning at 9:30 am 

City Hall Council Chamber 

(located in the Municipal Building)

800 McLeod Trail SE

Sliding scale report for long term funding being reviewed Wednesday, October 23rd by Calgary City Council

 

Save the Date for Calgary's Transit Summit

Join us for Transit Summit 10 till 2 pm

Transit Summit at CNIB from Thursday, September 26th, 2019 10-11 A Street NE. 

Tickets are on Eventbrite. https://public-transit-in-calgary-september-26-2019.eventbrite.ca

This will be a public opportunity to unite our stories about the positive impacts of affordable transit and the environmental and health benefits of a transit orientated city. 

Please visit the Eventbrite for further information.  

On November 26 - Ask our City Council to fund Sliding Scale for 2019

Fair Fares postcard survey's
Top 3 Reasons People
Use the Low-Income Transit Pass

On November 26th City Council will hear submissions from the public on a number of budget related issues, including a $6 million funding request from Calgary Transit to fund the Low Income Transit Pass for 2019. This funding is required to maintain the current fare structure of the Sliding Scale 


With the introduction of the Sliding Scale, the Low-Income Transit pass has surpassed all expectations of monthly pass sales, far exceeding the previous “one price” monthly pass. The program has doubled in size in the past two years. 


Results form City of Calgary survey of customers in the fall of 2017 showed that a more affordable monthly pass shows: 

• Increases the ability of people living in poverty to visit family and friends, thereby creating and maintaining strong relationships and decreasing social isolation and loneliness. 
• Allows people living in extreme poverty to become more mobile and increase participation in the community. 
• Maintains physical health by allowing people to get to medical and professional appointments and go to recreational programs. 
• Allows people to access employment, puts more money in people’s pockets and enables them to purchase other necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, school supplies etc. 

Other important benefits of the Sliding Scale include: 

• All members of the family are able to purchase a pass enabling them to travel together. 
• A recent study states transit tickets are the most common bylaw fine and an upstream approach is needed to reduce the number of people entering the justice system due to fare evasion fines. 
• Creates a more equitable and inclusive city and a community of engaged citizens. 
• Helps to alleviate stress and create an improved quality of life for people in poverty. 
• Contributes to long term goals of carbon reduction. 
• We are asking organizations to: 
• Send out the attached ”Call To Action” to the people you serve and your other contacts. If possible organizations can also assist their clients to write their letters of support. 
• Consider writing a letter to City Council from your organization in support of the Sliding Scale and send a copy to faircalgaryvoice@gmail.com. 
• Come to City Council on November 26th to speak or just to be in the audience. 

Contact information for your City Councillor is found at: 
http://www.calgary.ca/citycouncil/Pages/citycouncil.aspx 

*Sample letter of support can be downloaded here

*Call to Action can be downloaded here



Thank you for supporting affordable transportation in Calgary. 


Fair Calgary Community Voices 
faircalgaryvoice@gmail.com

Fair Calgary Community Voices is a group of organizations, community advocates and people experiencing poverty. We work with the City of Calgary to advocate for accessible and affordable low-income subsidy programs

New Website Transit for All

The City of Calgary is now planning its 4-year budget called "One Calgary" and we need the province to be on board beyond 2019. 

We created a "Transit 4 All" site check it out. 

Facebook: Fair Fares YYC
Twitter: @Calgaryfares
New Website: "Transit 4 All " Transit 4 All
Instagram: Fair_FaresYYC 

Proud our City continues the commitment for affordable transit... how about Alberta?

We are proud our City has led the way for many municipalities to take a closer look at what is an affordable fare. 
Affordable fares in Calgary mean ability to pay, in Calgary we call it the sliding scale. 

We believe operational funding of transit is a cost-shared responsibility of all three levels of government.
We are crossing our fingers our province sees the benefits and renews its commitment to help Albertans address social isolation and access community. 

Sliding Scale Call to Action for November 27th, 2017

On November 27th, share with Calgary City Council why affordable transit matters...

This November 27th help us share why affordable transit matters to Calgarians

Here are three things you can do...

  1.  Download the 'Affordable Transit Makes it Possible for Me to...' colouring page. 

As you can see, it is quite a simple design that allows people to share their story.  Tell us how your life has been affected by the sliding scale other than just writing a letter. On the back side of the page, there is a list of other things you can do. 

  2.  Share your thoughts with City Council in a letter or call 311 

Check out the key messages that people can use when talking about the sliding scale with others or with council members.

  3.  Learn more about the sliding scale. 

Check out the 'Call to Action' It will tell the history of the sliding scale and ways that people can help. 

Congrats to Calgary Transit!

Fair Fares wishes to congratulate Calgary Transit for its A+ grade as one of the best transit systems in Canada.  

Congrats Calgary Transit (link to the article) 

Since the introduction of the sliding scale enabling Calgarians living in extreme poverty, we are pleased to see transit experts rating our City as one of the best and we agree! 

The article talks about how Calgary improved in areas of "Operating Cost Per Service Hour and Passenger Trip Intensity"  both improving from a B to A grade, as well as "Calgary is currently the region with the lowest operating cost per service hour at $152.89, in contrast to Metro Vancouver topping the list at $186.29, followed by Greater Toronto and Hamilton and Greater Montreal’s operating cost service hours of $178.61 and $180.2, respectively." 


Lets hope the sliding scale model will be a trend for more Cities in Canada who make it a priority to ensure Citizens can afford to ride! 

Way to go! 

Fairer Fares are coming to Calgary

Great news! 'Sliding Scale' is rolling in April 1st!  

Transit passes will be different prices based on your yearly income. 

To learn more, visit the Fair Entry site here! And if you are excited this, share your happiness with City of Calgary 
Thanks #yycslidingscale

Sliding scale is almost here! Apply early if you don't already have a pass! 

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

Sliding Scale report coming Wednesday, July 6 2016

The City of Calgary moved one step closer on May 28th, 2016  to making a sliding scale a reality. 

Read the recent media coverage where the province plans to provide $ 4.5 million for the next three years to help with the low-income transit pass.

A sliding scale concept is very much like the boxes in the middle picture. where those that cannot afford the regular fare pay less. A sliding scale will help many more people enjoy connecting with the community by creating a more equitable approach to fares.
 If we want the third scenario on the right; it would mean free transit for all where no barriers exist to ride transit.

Global News, May 28th, 2016

Calgary Sun by Trevor Scott Howell, May 28th, 2016


What's next? 

Now its time for the City to decide how best to use the $ 4.5 million to make sure Calgarians can get on the bus. A sliding scale review was approved by Calgary City Council last September. 

Stay tuned for our key messages of why we think a sliding scale will help create a better city. 

We are also looking for people to come and talk to City Council how a sliding scale might help people access transit. Come and share your story on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 at the Old City Hall Engineering Traditions Board Room at 9:30 am! 

Call to Action- Fill out Provincial Survey by April 29th

Fair Fares encourages all Albertans 

to fill out the provincial survey 

on public transportation funding 

by April 29th, 2016.

To visit the survey, visit this link

Why we think it is important to fill out the survey

Thank you City Council for doing the right thing!

Members of the Hall wish to express their gratitude voting together to do the right thing to freeze fares, recreation fees and also creating an emergency fund for many non-profits seeing more people than every come through their doors. 

While we understand January's adult transit pass will increase, we know February is will come back down again. To learn more about the council decision watch this video.


Tuesday, December 15th, Council will talk more about what to do for affordable housing. 

Encouraged by gesture of City Council acknowledging reality of Calgarians are in need

City Council will look at a motion to help our City during its economic downturn

We are encourage by today's announcement City Council will be looking at notice of motion this Monday for an "economic resiliency fund" to address the growing needs many Calgarians are now facing. 

Its timely and greatly needed. 
January and February are typically the months people need affordable public transportation the most. 

If you wish to pass along your support, please feel free to email your City Councillor to support the motion.

To see the announcement visit this site  or to watch the video on the motion for an economic resiliency fund visit here

Social Costs of doing nothing | Piktochart Infographic Editor

Social Costs of doing nothing | Piktochart Infographic Editor



Please support a fair approach to create user fees in the City of Calgary. Please support the report.

Support a sliding scale for the 'Low-Income Transit Pass' on September 11th

Fair Fares is asking for your support for a new fare strategy for the Low Income Transit pass based on income.  

Click here for the report summary 
And Click here for the proposal which can also be found on the City of Calgary website. 

The sliding scale will assist citizens living slightly above the poverty line and those living in extreme poverty to purchase a monthly pass. The face of poverty has changed since 1973 when city first introduced a transit subsidy and there are many more people who need affordable transit.  

Letters are needed by Friday, September 11th when the report is shared at the Standing Policy Committee "Community Protective Services."

Background

Fair Fare's recent survey showed that almost 40% of Calgarians who live in poverty pay per ride because they can't afford to pay $44.00 per month for the the 'Low-Income Transit Pass'.  Some people said they are walking and are having to chose between food and a ride on transit.  People are becoming more isolated because the cost of the pass is unaffordable. 

Families living in poverty are definitely finding it difficult to purchase passes for themselves and their children to attend school and work.  80% of the people surveyed also said that people who live slightly above the poverty line should be eligible for a discount. 

"Currently, a single person making less than $23,861 a year qualifies for discounted transit pass. Do you think that people whose income is slightly above the poverty line should also qualify for a discounted transit pass? i.e. Use a "Sliding scale" instead of a fixed dollar amount for those people whose income is slightly above the poverty line?"

Call for letter of Support:  

We are asking for letters of support to City Councillors or to come and share your story in the council chamber why a sliding scale will help Calgarians in need. Letters of support can be emailed to the chair and co-chair of the Standing Policy Committee of "Community Protective Services" before September 11th. 

Email the councillors using the City website, please click on the links below. 

Chair - Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, 
and Co-Chair Councillor Evan Wooley 

Call 3-1-1 to leave a message. 

In person
If you are able to come in person on Friday, September 11th at the Old City Hall in the basement in the Engineering Traditions Boardroom beginning at 9:30 am. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bonnie Pacaud at Bonnie Pacaud 403.702.0204 or Colleen Huston at 403.717.7630

Thank you for your help and continued support. 

Support a sliding scale for the 'Low-Income Transit Pass' on September 11th

Fair Fares is asking for your support for a new fare strategy for the Low Income Transit pass based on income.  

Click here for the report summary 
And Click here for the proposal which can also be found on the City of Calgary website. 

The sliding scale will assist citizens living slightly above the poverty line and those living in extreme poverty to purchase a monthly pass. The face of poverty has changed since 1973 when city first introduced a transit subsidy and there are many more people who need affordable transit.  

Letters are needed by Friday, September 11th when the report is shared at the Standing Policy Committee "Community Protective Services."

Background

Fair Fare's recent survey showed that almost 40% of Calgarians who live in poverty pay per ride because they can't afford to pay $44.00 per month for the the 'Low-Income Transit Pass'.  Some people said they are walking and are having to chose between food and a ride on transit.  People are becoming more isolated because the cost of the pass is unaffordable. 

Families living in poverty are definitely finding it difficult to purchase passes for themselves and their children to attend school and work.  80% of the people surveyed also said that people who live slightly above the poverty line should be eligible for a discount. 

"Currently, a single person making less than $23,861 a year qualifies for discounted transit pass. Do you think that people whose income is slightly above the poverty line should also qualify for a discounted transit pass? i.e. Use a "Sliding scale" instead of a fixed dollar amount for those people whose income is slightly above the poverty line?"

Call for letter of Support:  

We are asking for letters of support to City Councillors or to come and share your story in the council chamber why a sliding scale will help Calgarians in need. Letters of support can be emailed to the chair and co-chair of the Standing Policy Committee of "Community Protective Services" before September 11th. 

Email the councillors using the City website, please click on the links below. 

Chair - Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, 
and Co-Chair Councillor Evan Wooley 

Call 3-1-1 to leave a message. 

In person
If you are able to come in person on Friday, September 11th at the Old City Hall in the basement in the Engineering Traditions Boardroom beginning at 9:30 am. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bonnie Pacaud at Bonnie Pacaud 403.702.0204 or Colleen Huston at 403.717.7630

Thank you for your help and continued support. 

Creating subsidies based on need and income

Last October, Council passed a motion for our City to look at creating a sliding scale fee proposal for low-income subsidy programs. To see the report also known as TT2014-0768, visit this link.

Subsidies based on need
In a recent CTV news story, the 'Institute for Research on Public Policy' based in Ontario suggested in a study to provide discounts based on need. 
Fair Fares and Fair Calgary Community Voices wants to know if you think there is a better way? 

We do! We think it needs to be a sliding scale. For the next few months we are asking Calgarians about discounts and a fair way to decide. Please visit our survey and let us know what you think. 

Is there a better way to decide discounts? Visit our survey before May 7, 2015

Link to Survey 

How much would people pay? 

Fair Calgary Community Voices is exploring a Sliding Fee Scale which would start at a much lower rate than the current Low-Income Transit Pass and would be acceptable to people living on low-income as well as seniors. 

We are doing  a survey to collect feedback about a proposed Sliding Fee Scale which would benefit people with incomes between 0 – $2400.00 per month (123% of Stats Canada 2014 Low-Income Cut Off) as it is recognized that many people with incomes slightly above LICO still live in poverty and struggle to afford City services.


Why Fair Fares supports a sliding scale

• A sliding fee scale treats all people living on low-income the same regardless of age. Fair Fares is recommending that the City combine the Low-Income Transit pass and the seniors’ Low-Income Transit pass into one program using a sliding scale. 
• A sliding fee scale will assist more people living in poverty and could prevent them from falling deeper into poverty. 
• A sliding fee scale creates a fairer way to provide City subsidies and ensures that all Calgarians are able to use public transit.