Calgarians struggling to make ends meet will soon be able to get a bus pass for just $5 per month.
Calgary city council voted unanimously Monday to introduce sliding scale fees for low-income Calgary Transit passengers.
That means that those riders will be able to buy a bus pass for between $5.15 and $51.50 per month based on their income.
"This makes a huge difference in people's lives."
Right now, an adult pass is $99 per month and low-income passes are $44.
A formerly homeless Calgarian told council the new prices will make a big difference in people's lives.
“That’s huge. They can now find jobs. They can go to their appointments. It’s a huge victory,” Nigel Kirk said, according to the Calgary Herald.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi echoed those feelings.
"This makes a huge difference in people's lives," Nenshi told CBC News. "It gets them to medical appointments, to schools, to job interviews."
The program will have no additional costs for the city due to a recent boost in funding from the provincial government.
The new fees come into effect in 2017.
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