City launches Affordable Transit Pass Program

The City has launched its Affordable Transit Pass Program for employed residents living with a low income.

By , Last Updated Tuesday, March 04, 2008

(Reproduced from a March 4, 2008 press release by the City of Hamilton.)

Hamilton, ON - The City has launched its Affordable Transit Pass Program for employed residents living with a low income.

The program, which is being piloted until February 2009, gives approved applicants the opportunity to purchase an HSR adult monthly bus pass for half price (the current price of an adult monthly transit pass is $79).

"We're pleased to be launching this program," said Joe-Anne Priel, general manager of the city's community services department.

"We know that as a community we have a lot more work to do to help our citizens living below the poverty line, but this program is a step in the right direction. Affordable transportation has been identified by the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction as a key priority."

To apply for the program, residents must be employed on a full-time, part-time or casual basis, 18-64 years of age (not including those who are eligible for student and seniors fares), and have a family income that falls below the 2006 Statistics Canada Low-Income Cut-off (LICO):

Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), Statistics Canada, 2006
Family Size
(# of persons)		 LICO
(after taxes)
1 $17,570
2 $21,384
3 $26,628
4 $33,221
5 $37,828
6 $41,953
7+ $46,077

Applicants also cannot currently be in receipt of Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

The application process includes submitting a completed application form along with last year's Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency and four recent, consecutive pay stubs. If applicants have misplaced last year's Notice of Assessment, they can call the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281 to obtain another copy.

Within five business days of submitting their application, applicants will receive a letter in the mail from the City's Special Supports Program, indicating whether or not they have been approved for the program.

The letter is good for six months, and must be shown at the HSR Ticket Office at 36 Hunter St. E. each time a pass is purchased. Passes can only be purchased at this location and only one pass can be purchased per month. The pass is for the applicant's use only, and is for use on HSR transit only, not DARTS.

Participants will need to reconfirm eligibility for the program after six months. A month prior to their letter's expiry, applicants will need to call the City's Special Supports Program at (905) 546-2590 to verify their information. Special Supports staff will update the information and request that current pay stubs and, if applicable, the applicant's most recent Notice of Assessment, be faxed, dropped off or mailed in.

Twelve hundred affordable bus passes will be available each month through the program, and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

"Thousands of Hamiltonians work every day and still live in poverty," said Tom Cooper, community development coordinator at McQuesten Legal & Community Services. "The City's new Affordable Transit Pass Program is an innovative solution that will help some of those individuals with their public transit costs."

The program was approved by City Council in November and will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine if it will continue beyond February 2009.

For more information or to apply, visit http://www.hamilton.ca/support or call (905) 546-2590.