WATERLOO REGION — Grand River Transit fares will go up this fall, despite an acknowledgment that many low-income residents won't be shielded from the hike.

"The three per cent increase is going to apply to most people living on a low income," said Regional Coun. Elizabeth Clarke.

Clarke wanted to defer the fare increase decision at Tuesday's planning and works committee meeting to give Waterloo Region staff time to come up with recommendations to protect low-income households and individuals from the increase.

"I would support a general fare increase if we had some mechanism by which we could ensure that people who live in low income are not subjected to that increase," Clarke said. "I don't, however, know what that mechanism might be."

When the increase was approved in the 2019 budget talks, the plan included considering the outcome of a regional transit affordability study — a one-year study started in fall 2017.

A preliminary report was presented Tuesday, but the recommendations aren't expected to go before council until September — and the increase is slated to kick in on the first of that month.

"They haven't perfectly lined up," said Coun. Tom Galloway, chair of the planning and works committee.

He said the cost of transit can be a barrier to everyday living for those on a low income, including finding work, and hopefully the upcoming report will provide clarity.

"It is a really critical issue for a lot of people," Galloway said.

The last fare increase was July 2017, with an average increase of two per cent. The 2019 increase was originally slated to take effect on July 1, but the final budget in February pushed that back to this September.

The increase won't affect the region's Transit for Reduced Income Program, which provides a subsidy to people living on a low income who can't afford the full transit fare. Clarke appreciates the cost of those passes are frozen, but it's not available to everyone who needs it.

"It's a small population that benefits from that," she said.

According to the preliminary report, sales of one-month passes through the program have increased tenfold since its launch in 2002. More than 16,500 passes sold in 2018, and there's a waiting list.

"There is a demand that's out there," said Peter Zinck, the region's director of transit services.

Changes to the types of fares offered would have an impact on revenues, and Zinck said the region wants to make sure they get it right.

The region offers a range of transit options for people on low income, including free passes to Ontario Works clients to upgrade their education or go to appointments, and discounted cards for community agencies.

Findings from the study, intended to evaluate the effects of reduced-fare transit passes for people on low income, found people were more likely to travel by bus and that there was an increase in quality of life related to time spent on activities compared to travel. Preferences for affordable transit options varied for study participants, and the researchers recommended making multiple types of passes available including one that costs as little as $20.

Coun. Sean Strickland said it should be recognized how much the region spends on affordable transit, a sentiment echoed by Galloway.

Strickland didn't think it was feasible to do much else other than approve the increase — which is what happened pending final approval from council next week — because a deferral would be indefinite until there were some answers and then revenue would be lost.

"When the report comes in September, we can adjust the fares accordingly as per the recommendations of the pilot study," Strickland said.

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"I think it's important we move ahead, even though it's not perfect."

jweidner@therecord.com

Twitter: @WeidnerRecord