1. Transit Fares for Low Income Calgarians
Stephen Hansen
Calgary Transit, Manager, Safety and Security
Calgary, Alberta

2. Presentation Overview
• Calgary Overview
• Calgary Transit Profile
• Fare Facts
• History of Low Income Transit Pass Program
• Current Situation
• Lessons Learned

3. • Relatively young and affluent
Calgary Overview
• 1.2 million population
• Relatively young and affluent
• Head quarters to Canada’s oil and gas industry
• Transportation hub

4. Calgary Transit Profile
• Bus, light rail and accessible services
• 2.7 million hours of service
• 102 million revenue passengers (50% mode split)
• 34% increase in ridership/10 years

5. • $171.3 million annual revenue (2012) • $1.54 average fare
Fare Facts
• 55% cost recovery
• Flat fare system
• $171.3 million annual revenue (2012)
• $1.54 average fare

6. Fare Facts (continued)
Fare Type
Rate (2013)
Cash
Adult
$3.00
Youth
$1.75
Tickets
Adult (book of 10)
$30.00
Youth (book of 10)
$17.50
Monthly Passes
$94.00
$57.50

7. History of the Low Income Transit Pass Program
• Community Committee on Discounted Transit fares in 2000
• Approached City for subsidized monthly transit pass
• Four concerns from City of Calgary

8. History of the Low Income Transit Pass Program(continued)
• Created in 2005 as a pilot
• 18 to 64 years of age
• 75% of low income cut-offs
• Program cost to be covered by transit revenues
• Fair Calgary Policy (2006)

9. Current (LITP) Program
• Annual eligibility determination
• Two locations – for eligibility
• Income criteria – 87.5% of low income cut-offs based on family income

10. Current (LITP) Program (continued)
• Proof of income, live in Calgary, photo identification
• Pass valid on all CT services
(Conditions of Use)
• One pass per month
• Four locations for pass sales

11. Current (LITP) Program (continued)
• 15,478 LITP registrants
• 2012 estimated lost revenue: $4.96 million
• 2012 program administration costs: $350K

12. • Two persistent people can make a difference • Social role of transit
Lessons Learned
• Two persistent people can make a difference
• Social role of transit
• Less uptake than estimated
• Fraud prevention measures