Fair Pass Program - 2020 Update

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The decision

2020-11-25 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on November 25 and 26, 2020, adopted the following: 1. City Council approve the Fair Pass Program resumption strategy in the report (October 28, 2020) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to implement the resumption strategy. 2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee, as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Update report in the second quarter of 2021, on funding options for the full implementation of the Fair Pass Program, including consideration in the 2022 Budget process.

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3. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission Board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, in partnership with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, as part of the Toronto Transit Commission's 5-Year Fare Policy and 10-Year Fare Collection Outlook to identify, streamline and reduce barriers for residents to fully apply for the Toronto Transit Commission's fare concessions and the Fair Pass discount. 4. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission Board, as part of the Toronto Transit Commission's 5-Year Fare Policy and 10-Year Fare Collection Outlook, to review fare measures to assist seniors. 5. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to present an update on the suspension of the Fare Pass Transit Discount Program to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee no later than the end of the first quarter of 2021.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In 2016, as part of Toronto's Poverty Reduction Strategy, City Council approved the Fair Pass Program which reduces the cost of public transit for low income residents by providing a discount on an adult Toronto Transit Commission fare. Since the inception of the program, the City of Toronto has issued Fair Pass discounts programmed onto a PRESTO card to over 80,000 Toronto Transit Commission riders saving Toronto's lowest income residents over $11.3 million on the cost of Toronto Transit Commission transit fares.

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In March 2020, as part of the City's response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the City suspended a number of services and programs in order to meet health and safety requirements and focus resources on the maintenance and delivery of critical emergency supports and services for vulnerable and marginalized residents. Consistent with this approach, the receipt and processing of new applications for the Fair Pass Program was suspended, while annual renewals of Fair Pass discounts for residents who remain eligible for the benefit have continued to be processed. Planning is now underway to resume in December 2020 the acceptance and processing of new applications for the Fair Pass Program in a manner which ensures the health and safety of residents and staff. This report provides an update on the full resumption of the Program and the impacts to service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes an outline of the City's plan to complete implementation of the current second of three implementation phases. The report also identifies outstanding operational and technical barriers related to the Fair Pass Program's integration with the PRESTO card system. Finally, it provides an update on required work to move towards Phase 3 (full implementation) of the Program, which will see eligibility extended to all adult residents whose income is less than the Low-Income Measure plus 15 percent.

Staff recommended

The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. City Council approve the Fair Pass Program resumption strategy in this report and direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to implement the resumption strategy. 2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to report to the Economic and Community

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Development Committee, as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Update report in the second quarter of 2021, on funding options for the full implementation of the Fair Pass Program, including consideration in the 2022 Budget process.

Considered

2020-11-12 · Economic and Community Development Committee · adopted
Decision as filed
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve the Fair Pass Program resumption strategy in the report (October 28, 2020) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to implement the resumption strategy. 2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development,
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Finance and Administration, to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee, as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Update report in the second quarter of 2021, on funding options for the full implementation of the Fair Pass Program, including consideration in the 2022 Budget process.
2020-11-25 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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