Initial evaluation of Calgary’s free transit for children under 12 shows that it’s unclear if the program is achieving the goals set out when council approved it in 2022.

That’s the city administration perspective from a briefing note that’s included in the agenda for the June 26 Community Development Committee, though they do recommend sticking with the program until a more formal evaluation can be done. Briefing notes are included as part of the agenda but are not discussed as a part of the meeting.

Back in late 2022, Calgary city council approved free fares for children 12 and under as part of a plan to provide more affordability for families, increase access to transportation and encourage early adoption of public transit for kids. It was implemented in 2023.

The program got $3 million in permanent base funding in 2023’s November budget adjustment, with a motion arising asking for city administration to evaluate the program and provide potential amendments to align with the goal of increased ridership.

There are some good notes, including that children and youth have a positive view of transit. In a survey of riders done this year, 80 per cent of children and youth feel more independent when using transit, and 74 per cent felt safe.  Of adults, 89 per cent felt allowing children 12 and under to ride free was a great idea, and 74 per cent said promoting kids’ use would encourage use when they’re older. However, 61 per cent were uncomfortable with kids taking transit on their own.

Lower fares ranked lowest among factors that could increase transit usage, according to the survey. Further, transit operators were mixed on the changes. Some noticed an increase in fare evasion.  

“While there is recognition that it addresses affordability concerns and aims to increase access to transit, it is unclear if these goals are being met,” read the city admin briefing note.

“There is no clear evidence that the free fare initiative is boosting ridership or (encouraging) long-term transit use.”

City admin said that the affordability aspect is already addressed through low-income fare products. With no fare product attached to this program, it was difficult to measure ridership effectively.

It makes a difference: Vibrant Calgary

Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Calgary, said anecdotally she’s heard that having free transit for kids relieves the economic burden of going out for many Calgarians. She said if there are two kids and you’re saving $5 in each direction, and perhaps the adults have monthly unlimited passes, it adds up to $20 savings.

“I think how that translates is that, especially where adults have a monthly pass, it’s sort of unlimited, that you’re not just saving those transit trips for necessities, like, appointments,” she said.

“You can also use transit, in this case, for enjoyment or leisure, which is absolutely a great goal for transit.”

Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott, who chairs the Community Development Committee, said that sometimes good things are just hard to quantify. 

“The value is there. Value in getting the independence, the value in having some money saved for the families,” Walcott said.

“Unless they spend money on a tracking system just to find out how many people are on the transit we’re using the free pass, we’d be spending money just to count to determine whether or not we want to give kids kind of good habits for their future.”

Walcott said while there may not be specific data around youth riding transit, or that it’s improving ridership overall, he noted that Calgary is one of the fastest systems in North America to return to pre-Covid use, and even surpass it.  He said the continued push to improve frequency would only increase the value proposition for families moving forward.

“While is it perfect, is it going to be that that transit system of the future yet? Absolutely not,” he said.

“But if we started cutting transit when we're actually doing well amongst North American transit systems, that would be a mistake that I don't think we could ever live down.”

Reid said more data is needed to show that using transit isn’t just a hardship option for transportation.

“I think that even in the absence of that data, which they should be collecting, you see the change in perception for youth around what public transit is and what it means in our city is positive in and of itself,” she said.

“Data does often mean that we can entrench things in policy much more easily. If we are just guessing, then it is harder to put things into policy, and it makes it easier to cut.”

Calgary Transit said they would continue to measure the program's efficacy as a part of a broader effort to increase ridership and reduce fare evasion.