There’s really no other way to describe the pandemic than to say it really sucks. Even though the mantra is that we’re all in this together, the reality is that COVID-19 and the subsequent quarantine has impacted everyone differently. Some people have been able to make the switch to working from home without too much difficulty. Others have struggled with the transition, and some people have had their lives turned completely upside down. While everyone is trying to figure out their lives, Alberta’s public transit systems already had systems in place to help commuters. Each of the cities below and other regions in Canada offer low-income transit passes to commuters. If you qualify, you’ll pay a reduced rate for monthly public transit passes. Low-income transit passes are available in Alberta’s two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton, making it easier for families and individuals to get to work and school, and travel within their local community. The Calgary Low Income Travel Pass works on a sliding scale. The less income you make, the less you pay for the pass. There is a separate pass for seniors, but all eligibility for passes is decided through the Fair Entry application process. To apply for the Calgary Transit Low Income Travel Pass, you must be a resident of Calgary, and your income must fall within the following low-income cut-off rate: How much you pay depends on how much income you make every year. The less you make, the less you’ll have to pay. The minimum discount you will receive is 50% regardless of where you fall on the low income scale. For seniors, the Low Income Pass is $25 per year. To apply for the Low Income Travel Pass, you have to fill out the Fair Entry application form. You’ll need to prove that you are a Calgary resident, and you’ll also need proof of your income. Proof of income can be shown by: You can apply online, by fax or mail at the following contact addresses: If you have any questions, call the Calgary Transit General Line at 403-262-1000. Transit Tip: Get real-time transit alerts and arrival times with Rocketman. Learn more about the Rocketman app for Calgary transit. Edmonton’s Ride Transit Program uses a partnership with the government to offer youth and adults reduced costs for public transit passes. Depending on where you fall on the LICO scale, you’ll either pay $34 or $48 for a monthly pass. To be eligible for the Ride Transit Program in Edmonton, you must meet one of the criteria: If your income is less than LICO (low income cut off) + 10%, you now qualify for a $34 monthly transit pass. If your income is between 10% and 25% above LICO, you now qualify for a $48.50 monthly transit pass. The table below explains the LICO. **Eligible households include yourself, partner or spouse, and dependent children aged 17 or younger (dependents over 17 must submit a separate application form with their own income and address verification). You’ll have to fill out the Leisure Access and Ride Transit Program application form and mail it in. There is no online or in-person application. Forms must be mailed to: Leisure Access & Ride Transit Program PO Box 2359 Edmonton, AB, T5J 2R7 Take note that because passes need to be mailed, you should apply for each month’s pass as soon as it becomes available on the Ride Transit Program website. For example, passes for October will be made available by the beginning of September. They can take up to ten days to be mailed, so you need to be proactive in applying. If you have any questions, call 311 or check out the Edmonton Transit Facebook Page. Everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you still need to commute daily (or regularly), don’t let your income prevent you from doing that. Take advantage of these programs so you can keep doing what you need to to take care of yourself and your family. As long as you’re being safe and respecting social distancing and mask rules, you should be able to travel as much as you need to. At Rocketman, we do our best to keep you ahead of your commute. Get real-time transit alerts, arrival times and try our new crowdedness feature to avoid busy times on your journey. Rocketman transit app for Android This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.What you need to know about low-income transit passes in Alberta
Calgary Transit Low Income Travel Pass
Who can apply
Cost of the Calgary Low Income Travel Pass
How to apply
Ride Transit Program Edmonton
Cost of the Ride Transit Pass
Who can apply
People in Household
** Household Income for Ride Transit Program
($34 monthly pass) Household Income for Ride Transit Program
($48.50 monthly pass)
1
$29,069
$29,070 – $33,033
2
$36,189
$36,190 – $41,124
3
$44,490
$44,491 – $50,556
4
$54,017
$54,018 – $61,383
5
$61,265
$61,266 – $69,619
6
$69,095
$69,096 – $78,518
7
$76,929
$76,930 – $87,419
How to apply
Don’t let your income prevent you from commuting
Download the Rocketman app:
There’s really no other way to describe the pandemic than to say it really sucks. Even though the mantra is that we’re all in this together, the reality is that COVID-19 and the subsequent quarantine has impacted everyone differently. Some people have been able to make the switch to working from home without too much difficulty. Others have struggled with the transition, and some people have had their lives turned completely upside down. While everyone is trying to figure out their lives, Alberta’s public transit systems already had systems in place to help commuters. Each of the cities below and other regions in Canada offer low-income transit passes to commuters. If you qualify, you’ll pay a reduced rate for monthly public transit passes. Low-income transit passes are available in Alberta’s two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton, making it easier for families and individuals to get to work and school, and travel within their local community. The Calgary Low Income Travel Pass works on a sliding scale. The less income you make, the less you pay for the pass. There is a separate pass for seniors, but all eligibility for passes is decided through the Fair Entry application process. To apply for the Calgary Transit Low Income Travel Pass, you must be a resident of Calgary, and your income must fall within the following low-income cut-off rate: How much you pay depends on how much income you make every year. The less you make, the less you’ll have to pay. The minimum discount you will receive is 50% regardless of where you fall on the low income scale. For seniors, the Low Income Pass is $25 per year. To apply for the Low Income Travel Pass, you have to fill out the Fair Entry application form. You’ll need to prove that you are a Calgary resident, and you’ll also need proof of your income. Proof of income can be shown by: You can apply online, by fax or mail at the following contact addresses: If you have any questions, call the Calgary Transit General Line at 403-262-1000. Transit Tip: Get real-time transit alerts and arrival times with Rocketman. Learn more about the Rocketman app for Calgary transit. Edmonton’s Ride Transit Program uses a partnership with the government to offer youth and adults reduced costs for public transit passes. Depending on where you fall on the LICO scale, you’ll either pay $34 or $48 for a monthly pass. To be eligible for the Ride Transit Program in Edmonton, you must meet one of the criteria: If your income is less than LICO (low income cut off) + 10%, you now qualify for a $34 monthly transit pass. If your income is between 10% and 25% above LICO, you now qualify for a $48.50 monthly transit pass. The table below explains the LICO. **Eligible households include yourself, partner or spouse, and dependent children aged 17 or younger (dependents over 17 must submit a separate application form with their own income and address verification). You’ll have to fill out the Leisure Access and Ride Transit Program application form and mail it in. There is no online or in-person application. Forms must be mailed to: Leisure Access & Ride Transit Program PO Box 2359 Edmonton, AB, T5J 2R7 Take note that because passes need to be mailed, you should apply for each month’s pass as soon as it becomes available on the Ride Transit Program website. For example, passes for October will be made available by the beginning of September. They can take up to ten days to be mailed, so you need to be proactive in applying. If you have any questions, call 311 or check out the Edmonton Transit Facebook Page. Everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you still need to commute daily (or regularly), don’t let your income prevent you from doing that. Take advantage of these programs so you can keep doing what you need to to take care of yourself and your family. As long as you’re being safe and respecting social distancing and mask rules, you should be able to travel as much as you need to. At Rocketman, we do our best to keep you ahead of your commute. Get real-time transit alerts, arrival times and try our new crowdedness feature to avoid busy times on your journey. Rocketman transit app for Android This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.What you need to know about low-income transit passes in Alberta
Calgary Transit Low Income Travel Pass
Who can apply
Cost of the Calgary Low Income Travel Pass
How to apply
Ride Transit Program Edmonton
Cost of the Ride Transit Pass
Who can apply
People in Household
** Household Income for Ride Transit Program
($34 monthly pass) Household Income for Ride Transit Program
($48.50 monthly pass)
1
$29,069
$29,070 – $33,033
2
$36,189
$36,190 – $41,124
3
$44,490
$44,491 – $50,556
4
$54,017
$54,018 – $61,383
5
$61,265
$61,266 – $69,619
6
$69,095
$69,096 – $78,518
7
$76,929
$76,930 – $87,419
How to apply
Don’t let your income prevent you from commuting
Download the Rocketman app:
Don’t have Rocketman? Stay on top of your commute by downloading it:
Not sure if Rocketman works in your area? View our list of supported regions.
This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.
