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While some transit commissioners mused this week about rolling back a steep rebate on seniors’ fares, the co-chair of the city’s senior roundtable is skeptical.
Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans said she believes many seniors need a deeply discounted transit pass.
“I think any changes we might contemplate around seniors transit should be the subject of a community consultation and a comprehensive consultation because seniors value their transit,” Deans said Thursday.
Deans said she wouldn’t be in favour of ending the free rides for seniors on Wednesdays or making any major changes to seniors’ rates before asking them.
Monthly senior passes are $41.75, compared to $103.25 for regular adult passes. The senior per-ride cash fare is $2.70 or $2.14 with Presto e-purse, compared to $3.55 and $2.84, respectively, for regular adult fares.
Toying with the senior discount has come up as the transit commission and council consider ways to fund a discounted pass for low-income customers.
Some councillors want to reopen the debate over a low-income pass during the next budget cycle.
During a commission meeting this week, transit advocate Catherine Gardner questioned why Transpo has a discount tied to age and not income. There should be one low-income pass for all riders and the senior pass should be eliminated, she argued.
Graham Milner, a citizen transit commissioner, wondered about the future financial implications for Transpo by continuing senior fares.
The city’s Older Adult Plan says about 12 per cent of Ottawa population are seniors today, but that rate is expected to exceed 20 per cent by 2031. As the senior population grows, more transit riders are eligible for deeply discounted fares.
According to Transpo, the total value of the discounts seniors receive annually is $7 million. Most of the value, $5 million, comes from senior passes, with another $1 million coming from single-ride fares and $1 million from the free Wednesday trips.
Transpo said it can’t pinpoint the actual cost to the city for senior discounts because it can’t speculate on customers’ choices if a discount wasn’t offered.
The Older Adult Plan says seven per cent of all Ottawa seniors live on low incomes, but it’s a lower rate compared to other age groups in the city.
Pat Scrimgeour, assistant GM of Transpo, said 40 per cent of transit customers who are seniors have low incomes.
Council and the transit commission are faced with trying to help one demographic, but not at the expense of another.
Of course, messing with senior discounts is highly political. Seniors have voted by larger rate than any other age category in past federal elections and it’s fair to assume a similar trend happens municipally.
Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum, who sits on the transit commission, said he would be concerned for seniors who are slightly above the low-income cutoff and forced to buy regular passes if Transpo didn’t have a discounted senior pass.
Nussbaum wants to consult with the public on fares before council digs into the 2017 budget this fall. Council needs to have a better understanding of how people use the transit system, including seniors and other customers with low incomes, Nussbaum said.
“We’re not benefiting ourselves to rob Peter to pay Paul,” Nussbaum said. “How do we help both people?”
Deans said the city has to be “cautious” about how it moves forward with altering transit fares.
“It’s always a matter of money,” Deans said. “It’s striking the right balance of how much money we have to spend and how effective we are in spending it and getting the best bang for the buck.”
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans said she believes many seniors need a deeply discounted transit pass.
“I think any changes we might contemplate around seniors transit should be the subject of a community consultation and a comprehensive consultation because seniors value their transit,” Deans said Thursday.
Deans said she wouldn’t be in favour of ending the free rides for seniors on Wednesdays or making any major changes to seniors’ rates before asking them.
Monthly senior passes are $41.75, compared to $103.25 for regular adult passes. The senior per-ride cash fare is $2.70 or $2.14 with Presto e-purse, compared to $3.55 and $2.84, respectively, for regular adult fares.
Toying with the senior discount has come up as the transit commission and council consider ways to fund a discounted pass for low-income customers.
Some councillors want to reopen the debate over a low-income pass during the next budget cycle.
During a commission meeting this week, transit advocate Catherine Gardner questioned why Transpo has a discount tied to age and not income. There should be one low-income pass for all riders and the senior pass should be eliminated, she argued.
Graham Milner, a citizen transit commissioner, wondered about the future financial implications for Transpo by continuing senior fares.
The city’s Older Adult Plan says about 12 per cent of Ottawa population are seniors today, but that rate is expected to exceed 20 per cent by 2031. As the senior population grows, more transit riders are eligible for deeply discounted fares.
According to Transpo, the total value of the discounts seniors receive annually is $7 million. Most of the value, $5 million, comes from senior passes, with another $1 million coming from single-ride fares and $1 million from the free Wednesday trips.
Transpo said it can’t pinpoint the actual cost to the city for senior discounts because it can’t speculate on customers’ choices if a discount wasn’t offered.
The Older Adult Plan says seven per cent of all Ottawa seniors live on low incomes, but it’s a lower rate compared to other age groups in the city.
Pat Scrimgeour, assistant GM of Transpo, said 40 per cent of transit customers who are seniors have low incomes.
Council and the transit commission are faced with trying to help one demographic, but not at the expense of another.
Of course, messing with senior discounts is highly political. Seniors have voted by larger rate than any other age category in past federal elections and it’s fair to assume a similar trend happens municipally.
Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum, who sits on the transit commission, said he would be concerned for seniors who are slightly above the low-income cutoff and forced to buy regular passes if Transpo didn’t have a discounted senior pass.
Nussbaum wants to consult with the public on fares before council digs into the 2017 budget this fall. Council needs to have a better understanding of how people use the transit system, including seniors and other customers with low incomes, Nussbaum said.
“We’re not benefiting ourselves to rob Peter to pay Paul,” Nussbaum said. “How do we help both people?”
Deans said the city has to be “cautious” about how it moves forward with altering transit fares.
“It’s always a matter of money,” Deans said. “It’s striking the right balance of how much money we have to spend and how effective we are in spending it and getting the best bang for the buck.”
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
