People with disabilities will soon have to pay Hamilton bus fare as new program slated for 2024

Every timeSharon Ruttanboards a Hamilton bus, she'sable to flash a card proving she has low visionin place of paying a fare.

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) card has guaranteedshe can get around the city independently, regardless of her fixed income or low vision, Ruttantold councillors at a public works committee meeting Monday.

But come Jan. 1, changes to the HSR's subsidized fareprograms will mean Ruttan and other residents who are blind, have low visionor usea mobility aid,such as a wheelchair or walker, can no longer use thevoluntary pay program that's been in place since 2013.

As cost of living has "skyrocketed," Ruttan said,she doesn't have much money left at the end of the month to spend on transit, which she currently takes several times a week to volunteer, run errands or go to social activities.

"I get very emotional about this because it's not only going to affect me, but a lot of people both financially and emotionally," she said.

The city already receivedcouncil's approval in July to move ahead with a new "fare assist" program that will offerlow-income households a 30 per cent discount.

Fare assist willreplace both the voluntary pay program andaffordable transit passes monthly passes that could be purchased at a 50 per cent discount for adults ona low or fixed income, says a staff report.

The city estimates about 500,000 bus trips a year are taken by people who don't pay a fare under thevoluntary pay programand only 100 affordable transit passes are purchased a month.

CNIB says city didn't do proper consultation

Transit director Maureen Cosyn Heath told councillors Monday thatmore people will be eligible for fare assist than under the two other programs and it ismore flexible, although many people living with disabilitieswillbe losing the benefit of free transit.

"We understood and acknowledged these kinds of adaptations are difficult," said Cosyn Heath. "We knew it wouldn't be favourably received by everyone, but it was our best effort."

Staff estimate over 88,000 people in Hamilton will qualify forfare assist, which will beoffered on a pay-as-you-go basis through Presto cards. If the estimated10 per cent of these people sign up, the city figures it will cost $2.4 million a year, but will be paid for through the provincial gas tax.

Several delegates who live with disabilities told the public works committee they hadlearned of changes only this fall months after an online public survey was conducted and the fare assistwas already approved.

CNIB advocacy lead Bernard Akuoko said city staff didn't directly reach out to people with low vision and blindness to inform them of the survey and provide them with other ways to complete it other than online. As a result, many learned of the changesfrom bus drivers or the news.

"This is a vulnerable population," Akuokosaid. "It's so important to get their real stories of what's going on."

Cosyn Heath said the city did a "solid job" involving community partners.

Councillors have the ability to open the fare assist program up to changes at the next council meeting.