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We work on affordable, accessible, convenient and connected transit. 
One of our most recent community efforts was resecuring funding for the Sliding Scale.

What is the sliding scale? 

The sliding scale fare structure for Low Income Monthly Transit Passes helps eliminate financial barriers for Calgarians so they can participate easily in the community. We are very proud our City and Province of Alberta both fund the low-income transit pass program. This funding agreement was renewed in 2023.

 

The shared partnership funding helps Calgarians receive equitable access to Calgary Transit and the chance to participate in civic and community life, allowing the voices of all Calgarians to be heard.

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The cost of the pass depends on the number of people in your household and your income. A single parent living on less than $17,127 a year could purchase a pass for themselves and their child for $5.60 each. 

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The table below is part of City of Calgary's "Calgary Transit Low Income Monthly Pass sliding scale fare FAQ"  page found here. 

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Who benefits?

The sliding scale program was first launched in April 2017, and uptake was huge. In the first 9 months of the program, nearly 250,000 passes were sold. Most of them were in band A, meaning sold to individuals living in extreme poverty. Since the pandemic these numbers have dropped however many people continue to use low-income transit pass. Please see our blog for stories of how people continue to utilize the pass during the pandemic.

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The sliding scale frees up money that was previously spent on transportation, allowing people to make
more choices about how to spend their money on food, school, or shelter. It provides affordable monthly passes for every member of the family, so they no longer have to share. Low income Calgarians now have fewer barriers to finding employment and traveling to and from their job/volunteer opportunity, mobilizing a previously untapped workforce.

 

Affordable transit increases the vibrancy of our city. The sliding scale:

  • Increases the ability of all Calgarians to create and maintain strong relationships of support and friendship and decreases social isolation and loneliness.

  • Helps people living on a low-income to connect with their doctors, community workers, and social service agencies.

  • Increases the number of people accessing transit which reduces the number of cars on the road. Increased use of public transit has a positive effect on our environment as pollution is decreased.

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