As the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reveal, the City has identified one area it can make an immediate impact for low-income customers: Transit.

Welland Transit has identified a need within its fare structure to assist a demographic of riders to make transit more accessible. As a result, it has initiated a reduced fare structure for qualified low-income passengers beginning January 1, 2022.

“We try to provide great service for all riders of Welland Transit,” said Ed Zahra, transit manager. “We also try to provide compassionate service, and in this case, it’s recognizing the population of riders who would benefit from service at a reduced rate.”

Qualified customers are those actively registered with the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Privacy and confidentiality of the qualified individuals remain protected by the ongoing partnership with the Hope Centre, which will sell and disseminate the passes accordingly. The issued passes will be coded from the provider with the applied discount; however, the pass will not differ in appearance from a regularly priced pass. The current price for an adult 31-day municipal pass is $85. The price for the reduced pass would be $50.

Welland Transit implemented the swipe card pass, January 2019. As such, we wish to communicate to our passengers that previously issued punch-style passes will no longer be accepted beyond December 31, 2021.

Transit remains an essential service, and the City of Welland commits to making it accessible for everyone.