Building on the success of the City of Vancouver’s Reduced Fare Transit Pilot in 2021-22, will you commit to using your role on Council to advocate to TransLink and the Province to work towards free or reduced fare transit for people on low incomes in Metro Vancouver, and identify opportunities to increase transit affordability in Vancouver?
Why this Matters
- When asked about what they would improve about the city, free and reduced fare transit was the most frequently mentioned policy proposal by survey participants.
- Free transit is one of the most transformative policy changes for women and equity-deserving communities in Vancouver as it addresses disability justice, racial justice, poverty justice and climate justice.
- Public transportation is a critical component of the Climate Emergency Action Plan, but more needs to be done to encourage transit use as fare affordability remains a barrier.
- The City of Vancouver implemented a highly successful pilot project providing free transit for low-income people in 2021-22; one of the key recommendations from this pilot was that the City work with Translink to implement free or reduced fare transit for low-income and equity-deserving individuals.
- While Mayors typically have the most influence over transit, Councillors can still use their role to push for change within local, provincial, and federal governments and influence Vancouver’s policy direction on transportation.
Additionally: If you are a Mayoral candidate, will you additionally commit to work alongside other municipalities to advocate for free or reduced fare transit, in forums including the Mayors Council and similar transit bodies?