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.