Changes may be en route for low-income riders

Metro file

Council is considering changes to low-income transit passes that would simplify the application process.

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Published: January 12, 2012 5:58 a.m.

Last modified: January 12, 2012 10:14 a.m.

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Low-income transit users and anti-poverty advocates are hoping council follows through with streamlining applications and assisting a wider range of Calgarians.

Bonnie Pacaud of Fair Fares said city hall is taking the first steps towards necessary changes, first by aligning applications for multiple city subsidy programs.

“What that means is you don’t have to continually prove over and over again that you’re poor,” she said.

Currently, only those who fall below 75 per cent of the low-income cut-off (LICO) qualify for a subsidized transit pass.

Dan Meades, of Vibrant Communities Calgary, said he hopes that changes.

“What you’re saying to people living between 75 per cent and 100 per cent of LICO is your poor, you’re just not poor enough to help and that’s really not what we want to see,” he said.

As someone who utilizes the low-income transit pass, Brad Robertson said the current application process is lengthy and the pass is still pricy. “People who live in even subsidized housing where they have to pay their electricity and everything on top of their rent, it’s still pretty expensive.”

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