Partnerships for Fare-Free Public Transit

Whereas equitable access to mobility is fundamental to full and meaningful participation in local communities, including access to education, employment, services, recreation, culture and community life, and noting that emissions from transportation generate a majority of community-based emissions in many communities, meaning that changes in transportation options have the potential to have a substantial impact in reducing green-house gas emissions; And whereas forward-looking jurisdictions around the world from Kingston, Ontario to Kansas City, Missouri, to Luxembourg and Estonia are eliminating user-fee barriers to public transit ridership, with residents paying for transit services through the tax system rather than at the fare box: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to work with local governments to introduce fare-free public transit services where communities support the elimination of user-fee barriers to public transit ridership.