Road Ahead: Senior citizens may get YRT, Viva fare break next year

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 31, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Seniors may get a free ride starting in 2016.

York Region councillors will look at the possibility of letting seniors ride York Region Transit/Viva public transit at no cost or for a reduced fare.

The issue is expected to come to council in the spring.

Other municipalities offer fare breaks to seniors and York should look at doing the same, according to Vaughan Councillor Michael Di Biase, who is proposing the plan.

The region’s senior population is growing, with the number of residents over the age of 65 expected to balloon by almost 150 per cent between 2011 and 2031, he said.

Meanwhile, the region established a seniors’ advisory task force in 2015 to explore opportunities to improve supports and services for older residents, Di Biase said.

One way the region can support the health and well-being of seniors so they can lead healthy, active lives and stay involved in their communities is to provide them with more affordable transit options, he said, adding many seniors are on fixed incomes.

“The main thing is, during the day, a lot of the buses in the city of Vaughan are empty and they travel back and forth. Why not give seniors an opportunity for them to go out of their homes and do some shopping or just go to the club?” Di Biase said.

“I think it’s a great opportunity. Why not take advantage of it? A number of seniors have made that request because they really can’t afford it and they would like to get out and they can do so during the day.”

Di Biase said there are a number of options the region can look at, including free transit for all seniors or reduced fares.

For example, seniors between the ages of 65 and 74 could pay $1 per ride while seniors over 75 could ride for free.

It will depend on the cost and the region’s financial resources, Di Biase said.

Last March, council approved fare increases that boosted single ticket prices July 1 and will bring another hike next July.

The fare for seniors and children went up 10 cents to $2.10 last summer and will climb to $2.20 next summer. The adult fare went up 10 cents to $3.40 last July and will increase to $3.50 next July.

Cash fares for everyone remained at $4.

Property taxpayers pay 61 per cent of the fare costs, with riders paying 39 per cent, according to Richmond Hill Councillor Vito Spatafora, chair of the region’s transportation committee.