City Council will receive an information report later today that states the new HSR Fare Assist program is succeeding at its goals. 5,889 people have been approved for the program, which gives riders a 30 percent discount on fares.
Nancy Purser, Manager, Transit Support Services writes that 415,681 discounted trips were redeemed in 2024, the first year of the program, representing 1.8% of total HSR ridership.
“The total revenue from these rides is $660,000 with a subsidy of $288,000.”
Additionally, social service agencies “can purchase tickets to support their client’s transportation needs. In 2024, 318,369 tickets were redeemed through the farebox. A total of 72,742 tickets were redeemed, which is a 29.6% increase than 2023.”
She writes that 226 Fare Assist users completed a survey regarding the program and “93 percent of respondents express satisfaction with the program.”
Three Delegates on Fare Policies
Disability advocate James Kemp, Hamilton Community Benefits Network Executive Director Karl Andrus, and Disability Justice Network of Ontario Executive Director Brad Evoy are registered to delegate
They have each expressed opposition to the HSR’s elimination of free fares for anyone using a mobility device.
The change was heavily criticized by the City’s Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities and many advocacy groups.
Voluntary pay for wheelchair mobility devices was implemented in the mid-1990s when the HSR first purchased low-floor buses with rear door ramps. At the time, the former Region of Hamilton-Wentworth determined that installing rear door fare collection boxes was too costly.
Thirty years later, modern public transit buses have front-loading ramps, and fare tap PRESTO cards are the most common payment method.
The Public Works Committee will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, and will be live-streamed on YouTube.
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Published: April 6, 2025
Last updated: April 6, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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