Local advocates worry about the fate of Calgary’s low-income transit pass. It’s projected to cost the city $52 million to continue funding the low-income transit pass, an increase of $19 million from last year. The preliminary budget shows that Calgary Transit has the money to cover the funding gap in 2024, but not in the upcoming 2025 budget.
“There’s no guarantee of that excess funding next year.”
More than 130,000 Calgarians use the low-income transit pass program. Earlier this year the province pulled their 6.2 million in funding for the program, but reversed course after facing ample pushback.
Ward 11 Councillor Kourtney Penner voted in favor of the funding and said that she understands advocates concerns. “There’s no guarantee of that excess funding next year or finding that funding out of reserves or somewhere else. That is the challenge.”
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