Low-income transit pass not included as commission approves new fare structure

Ottawa's transit commission heard morepleas Wednesday from people who want OC Transpo tooffer a discounted monthly pass for people on low incomes, but commissionerswill leave it up to the province to fund such a pass or revisit the issue themselvesnext fall.

The commission did approvea fare structure to takeeffect Jan. 1, 2017, whichdoesn't include that pass, but gets the city ready for when light rail trains come on track in 2018 and thesystem is transformed.

It must still be approved by full city council.

• Transit commission to seek $3.3M from province for low-income bus pass
• Ottawa's LRT debut to shuffle bus routes, shift fares
• Price hike for regular riders, end of tickets part of city's 2018 fare plan

Advocates havebeen calling for a low-income pass priced at about $41 per month.OCTranspohas estimated offering that discount would cost $3.3 million per year.

That price would be in linewith what an OCTranspopass costs seniors and people who receive Ontario disability support payments, and represents about a 60-per-cent discount over a regular adult monthly pass.

2 pitches from residents

"Recognize that it's simply not good enough to pass this issue on to the province," theHealthyTransportation Coalition'sTrevorHachurged the commission.

Hemade his own pitch for how to pay to create a low-income transit pass.

Hachcouldn't understand why OC Transpo plans to end the premium faresOC Transpo charges riders who take express buseson Jan. 1, 2017, even though riders will get to keep takingthose direct suburb-to-downtown buses until 2018.

OC Transpo should keep charging premium fares longer, argued Hach, and use that money to fund a low-income pass.

Others suggested the seniors' pass, and any other pass that is offered at a discount, should be analyzed for a rider's ability to pay.

HeatherStecher, who is part of theMaking Voices Count initiative, suggested a fare structure of her ownbased not on age but on income.

"I'm sure nobody wants to put a low-income person in the position of deciding between fruits and vegetables and a bus pass," added residentHortenseKailo.

Commissioners sympatheticto low-income issue

Many on the commission showed support for a low-income pass, but also suggested it's more of a social issue that should be dealtwith by the provincial government or at budget time.

"You saw some interest in continuing that discussion later in the year," saidCoun. Stephen Blais, who chairs the transit commission.

They did, however, question the issue raised by Hach about whythose premium fares charged on express routes would be phased out so many months before the routes themselves.

A motion by Coun. TobiNussbaum to consider keeping the premium fares in place until 2018, when LRT arrives, will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.