The end to special discounts for Calgary transit fares?

WATCH ABOVE:  Councillors are split on whether Calgary should continue to give special discounts based on age. Carolyn Kury de Castillo with more on the recommendation and why it’s sparking so much debate.

CALGARY- A controversial plan regarding Calgary transit fees is expected to go to city council Monday.

Councillors are split on whether Calgary should continue to give special discounts based on age.

Right now, it costs low income Calgarians $44 a month to ride the bus or train.

Some say that’s just not affordable for people living near the poverty line.

“The working poor, the single mom with two kids, half of the people that are living at the drop in center are working. So it’s really important that they be able to afford to get on the bus each day and go to work.  $44 a month is a big chunk out of their income,” Bonnie Pacaud from Fair Fares Calgary said.

That’s why “Fair Fares Calgary” is proposing a sliding scale for fees. The group represents low income and disabled Calgarians who don’t get nearly as good a deal as seniors.

“We are trying to make sure that Calgary transit is the first choice for all Calgarian’s. We have to look at our fair structure and to see if that’s genuinely accessible to all Calgarian’s who need it. A sliding scale is a great response to figure out how that can be shared and priced across all ages based on income,” Colleen Huston from Disability Action Hall said.

In July, council agreed to freeze bus passes at $15 a year for seniors below the poverty line. The regular seniors pass is $95 a year.

Calgary’s mayor says low income seniors are in a hard position and cautions about an end to age based subsidies.

“The interesting thing about this is low income seniors have the lowest transit fares anywhere in the country. $15 a year, it doesn’t really cost us much to keep that going. I’m tempted to leave that in place but I’d like to see what the analysis is and what the community has to say,” Mayor Nenshi said.

Some councillors think seniors with moderate or high incomes should start paying more for bus passes, saying something has to be done to address the cost as the number of seniors  grows.

Those pushing for a sliding scale say passes based on need not age, benefits the most people.

“I think that a sliding scale will be an answer to a lot of different issues the city is currently facing,” one transit rider said.

The proposed sliding scale transit pass would start at $54 annually for people at the poverty line and only include those  making up to $29,000 a year.

This month, council is expected to decide the next four years of transit passes for all age and income groups and what the sliding scale may look like.