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I! COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE !I 11 FROM: ROSS L. FAIR I GENERAL MANAGER OF COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBJECT: MEETING ON FEBRUARY 9,2009 SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT INFORMATION REPORT

I RECOMMENDATION That, on the recommendation of the General Manager of Community Services, the following report BE RECEIVED for information purposes.

PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER

1 Subsidized Public Transit for the Epileptic Population (February 18, 2004) . Free Lifetime Bus Passes for War Veterans (August 30, 2004) Subsidized Bus Passes for People with Disabilities (December 9, 2004) 9 Region of Waterloo’s Transit Affordability Program (May 30, 2005) 9 Subsidized Public Transit Update (September 26, 2005) 1 BACKGROUND I1 The matter of expanding the City’s current bus pass subsidy program to additional groups within the community has been before Council three times in the past number of months with the following outcomes. Council at its meeting of August 18’ 2008 passed the following resolution:

That the Civic Administration BE ASKED to, review, in liaison with the London Transit Commission, and report back on the matter of free public transit for seniors and other innovative public transportation programs provided by municipalities, including those in the City of Ottawa and the Town of Milton, such report to address any potential Human Rights considerations; it being noted that the Community and Protective Services Committee reviewed and received a communication and heard a verbal presentation from H. McLellan, 6. Sexsmith, and J. Mahon, The London and District Labour Council, with respect to the matter of free ridership for seniors; it being further noted that H. Sexsmith provided the Secretary with information on the programs in Ottawa and Milton, a copy of which is available in the Clerk‘s Office. (2008-SIO-00).

At its meeting of September 29th 2008,Council passed the following resolution: That the written communication dated August 25, 2008 from S. Hogarth, 902-202 McNay Street with respect to funding of public transportation for individuals on Disability Support Program (ODSP) BE REFERRED to the General Manager of Community Services to report back to the Community and Protective Services Committee; it being noted that the General Manager of Community Services is currently preparing a report with respect to public transportation subsidy for Seniors (and other innovative municipal programs), and consideration of ODSP recipients will be included in the same report; it being noted that S. Hogarth made a verbal presentation and submitted a 1,030 signature petition requesting the funding of public transportation for individuals on the Ontario Disability Support Program or Pension Plan, who are otherwise medically incapable of obtaining a dnver‘s license (Secretary’s Note - A copy of the petition is available in the C/ty Clerk’s Ofice.), and the attached letter to Mr. J. Ford, London Transit Commission, and the attached information flyer from . (200&C02-00,2008-S10-00) Agenda Item # Page #

Most recently, as part of its public hearings on the 2009 budget, Board of Control heard a delegation from representatives from Community Living London, wherein, they repeated their request for the provision of free bus passes for their program participants, most of whom are ODSP recipients, as a critical quali of life matter. Board of Control received this delegation and provided no further direction to staff to consider this matter.

The purpose of this report is to inform you of the situation in London and provide you with information regarding the current situation in comparable municipalities. Current City of London Subsldlzed Bus Pass Program The current City of London Subsidization Bus Pass Program provides for free use of public transit by the visually impaired and a 25% discount for seniors The program is based on providing subsidy to a specific group and is not a function of ability to pay.

In 2008, the net City budget to provide subsidies for these two populations was $119,400 and $291,800, respectively. The actual costs in 2008 for both programs exceeded the approved budget by $35,031. Past and Future Trends for the Visually Impaired and Seniors

Ridership for both populations has been increasing over the past 5-6 years. It is anticipated that ridership will slightly increase in 2009 (originally estimated at 7% however due to slowing economy and the impact of the December 1, 2008 fare increase the London Transit Commission (LTC) is projecting a decrease to ridership. The projected increase in budget for 2009 is the result of the subsidy applying to fares that were increased, effective December 1, 2008 by an average of approximately 10%. In addition, there is no income testing for either population. Eligibility is based on age (for seniors) and ability (for visually impaired), therefore usage continues to rise as targeted populations continue to increase. The chart below outlines the increasing demand for subsidized transit for these 2 populations.

I Increase for 2009 Municipal ComparlsOns The municipalities we scanned were Hamilton, KitcheneriWaterloa, Milton, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Windsor. We focused on these municipalities as they were outlined by the delegations to Community and Protective Services (CPSC) and Board of Control on this issue. 1. Seniors City staff did not find any municipalities that currently provide free transportation to seniors either on a day to day basis or through any special initiatives. All cities, stated above do provide subsidized tickets andlor passes to seniors similar to the City of London. 2. PeoDle Receivino Ontario Disabilitv Su~~ortProaram (ODSP) Municipalities scanned provide a wide range of options for people with disabilities (see Appendix 1). These range from free conventional bus service throughout the downtown in KitchenerWaterloo to $l5.00/month for a transit pass for people on ODSP in Windsor to discounted rates for people on ODSP at the same level as their seniors program in Ottawa and Milton. It is worth noting that in 2008, the average caseload for ODSP in London was 8,595 individuals/families (in December the actual caseload was 8,817). Provincial legislation states that through Mandatory Special Necessities, transportation reasonably required for medical treatment can be covered if the cost of that transportation in the month exceeds $15.00. ODSP does not cover ongoing transportation for activities such as job search, volunteering, employment, etc. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The Community Services Department will have to absorb the 2008 deficit of $35,031 from its other operations. Agenda Item # Page f#

In the 2009 budget process, we are recommending an increase of $64,600 (15.7% increase over 2008) to be added to cover the subsidized use of transit for the visually impaired and seniors in order to meet the ongoing needs of these 2 existing programs. Over the last 5 years, the increase to the City of London‘s subsidized transit budget lines will be 26%. CONCLUSIONS Community consultations and ongoing feedback from our community partners have confirmed that transportation is a critical barrier for those who are most vulnerable in our community. In providing a subsidy program for such individuals (or groups) use of public transit, the City of London is supporting access to accessible public transit which in turn helps to remove and prevent barriers that affect a person’s abilities to gain and maintain hnployment, access health care and recreational, educational and social activities for themselves and their family. Affordable transportation is a key component of providing a quality of life for all Londoners. We anticipate that the City of London will continue to be under pressure from other vulnerable populations to provide subsidized transit needs.

PRWRED BY: % Cheryl Smith Manager, Community PartneFhips & Funding Department of Community Services SUBMITTED BY:

/ Lvnnewe Livinnstone. Director Ross L. Fair s Nkghbourhood and Children’s Services General Manager cc: Vic Cote, General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services Cindy Howard, Director, Social & Community Support Services Larry Ducharme, General Manager, London Transit Agenda Item # Page #

Scan APPENDIX 1

* Provide reduced Provides accessible transportation Free transit for seniors or those with a disability ended in rate for yearly (DART and taxi services) through the early 1990's passes only. ODSP (medical and domiciliary 8 DART is a specialized service that provides eligible ($63.00/month) hostels) residents to purchase reduced faxi fares in an attempt to cut down on their transit specialized service. Hamilton's DART program spends the equivalent of the City of London's portion of our entire specialized transit budget (approximately$2.5M) on their taxi script service alone. Vindsor Receive a reduced rate The municipality does not cover the discounted rate for provides a ($15.00/month) -pending an seniors, this is made up through costs of other fares discounted rate application submitted to transit by A subsidy for individuals on ODSP is funded through ($40.00/month) OW/ODSP social services. This program is under review as the city considers its 2009 budget 3tchenerNVaterloo * Reduced rate for 1 Ride conventionalbus service for Reduced rates for Seniors are part of the fare structure regional service free throughout the downtown for regional services (S48.001month) 1 Full time registrants of Mobility They offer a special transit program of low income riders Plus (specializedtransit service) that are on OW/ODSP/etc. It is subsidized by the are able to ride conventional Regional Employment and Income Support Division of Service at no charge the Social Servms Department 'oronto * Seniors receive 1 Subsidized transit for people with D The discoJntea rate for seniors (same for students) .s a discounted disabilities is provided through based on the TTC's ability to meet its financial

rate that is made City of Toronto Social Programs obligations ~ requires TTC to recover 74~75%of their up through fares operation budget through the fare box of adult riders D No new concessions for fares can be considered unless (seniors are there is new subsidy money made available required to pay 60% of the adult fare)

Maws rn Transit provides 1 ODSP receives monthiy Senior * Municipality subsidizes the cost difference between adult discounted rate discount rate ($30.40) and seniorlODSP passes and absorbs as loss of revenue ($30.40) to 1 individuals with visible disability of approx. 1 miliionlyr, try to recover some with regular Seniors Le.: walker, chair, Mind etc. access ridership a free ride D Travel Training Program for individuals with disabilities - works with community partners i.e.: school boards, group homes, psychiatric hospitals, seniors groups etc. providing 'free' 750 transferable passes which provides transit for 1,500 people annually. Once training is complete they must purchase their own tickets/passes etc. dllton D Senior's(65t) 1 individuals with disabilities receive D Operating-- budget of combined Gas Tax, Reserves and discounted rate, Senior's monthiy discounted rate Tax base support discount rates monthly pass of ($38.50) Nocapping $38.50 CNIB card holders are free at this time iudbury e Reduced rate for 1 Provides pensioner pass for B Municipality does not cover discounted rate for Seniors, older adult pass ODSP, CPPD, CNIB, ACSC, the difference is made up through costs of other fares (55+) Veterans of $42.00 for monthly rn Contractedservice for physical disability from Tax levee is $42.00 for pass ($26.00 cheaper than adult monthly pass fare) ($26.00 cheaper Municipality funds 100% subsidy than adult fare) for a municipallycontracted service for those with physical disabilities who cannot take a taxi (must qual:ty and limited service) 'hunder Bay Reduced rate for Thunder Bay Trans:t provides seniors of Disability Pass for those in receipt $57.00/month of income support from province ($10.00 cheaper or federal gov't (attendants travel than adult) free) 1 Municipality has a contracted service (H.A.G.I. Transit) that has a. fixed rate of $3.00 one way andon Reduced rates B Those in receipt of OW and ODSP Municipality subsidizes transit for seniors both tickets and

for senior tickets and who qualify under iwal passes ~ 25% reduction and monthly policies and provincial legislation passes receive 100% subsidized transit