Low-income bus passes need provincial support, mayor says

Council wants to give people with low incomes a break on rising transit fares, but the city may not be able to shoulder the cost.

Fares for buses, LRT and Disabled Adult Transit Service are all set to go up over the next three years. By 2018, the cost of a bus ride paid in cash will go up $.30 to $3.50.

Coun. Andrew Knack said with the increases, Edmonton will have the third highest faresof all the major cities in Canada. The cash fares would be higher than those in Montreal and Vancouver.

Coun. Ben Henderson said the increases could make transit unaffordable for people who need it most.

"We could start pushing people off the system," he said.

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Council will consider funding a low-income transit pass for people who can't afford regular fares. The new pass would cost on $35 per month, a 60per cent discount from the regular $89 pass.

John Kolkman, research coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council, said a low-income pass isvital to give people a reliable means of reaching work, school, and healthcare.

"A low-income transit pass should be a priority," he told the transportation committee on Monday."For a low-income Edmontonian, every dollar counts."

The program would cost about $8.3 million over the next three years. Most of the expense is administrative. City officials propose hiring 14 full-time staff to verify people's income and sell the passes.

If approved, the passes will be available at city hall and select recreation centres starting in September 2016.

Councillors asked if there was a way to administer the program in a cheaper way with the help of other organizations like the public library.

Interim city manager Linda Cochrane said with an estimated 20,000 people expected to sign up, the city needs staff in place to deal with applications.

"It's going to bung up at the gate and everybody is going to be upset," Cochrane said.

Mayor Don Iveson said supplementing income and caring for financially struggling families is a provincial and federal responsibility.

He suggested funding half of the program, and holding the funds until the provincial or federal government chips in with the other half.

"I want to give them the chance to step up and support vulnerable Albertans and Canadians with some real honest to goodness help in operating these kinds of programs," he said.

Iveson said council will find out by spring if the province will help fund low-income bus passes. If not, he said council can make a decision based on the resources available.

Councillors will debate funding for the program during budget deliberations in late November.