As you all should know, effective February 27, 2006, Mississauga Transit bus fares have increased in price. Cash fares are now $2.50, and tickets and passes have increased by $1.00. Although this may seem insignificant at first, for someone who takes the bus twice a day using cash fare will be paying an extra $182.50 annually.

In Mississauga, there are over 25 different high schools and many students in these high schools depend on using Mississauga Transit busses. Of these students, many pay for their own bus fare and receive no support in paying these outrageous prices for transportation home. For students who use bus twice daily only on weekdays, they pay approximately $800 on bus tickets per school year. Most students do not work and although some students get money for bus tickets from their parents, many students simply cant afford to pay $800 a year. This means that some students cannot even get to their schools because of high public transportation prices. A recent problem that Mississauga Transit workers are facing is the use of counterfeit and altered tickets to be able to afford to board the bus. This is a problem that can easily be treated by the lowering of prices.

Many working people that use the buses are in low-income situations and cannot afford to pay an extra $182.50 dollars per year. This is becoming a dilemma and many people are being required to quit their jobs and look for jobs closer to home, simply because they cannot afford to go to work.

This situation can easily be handled if the prices are lowered to a reasonable rate that will encourage people to use Mississauga Transit services, and help reduce the amount of ticket fraud. The people of this petition would like the rates to be changed to this level:

Cash Fare (Exact change required)$2.00

Pre-School Children FREE (must be accompanied by a fare paying passenger)

Blind Patrons (with CNIB) FREE

Children (Grades 1 to 8)
Cash Fare $2.00
Ten Tickets $10.85

Students (Grades 9 to 12, including full-time university and community college students. Must show current school I.D.)
Cash Fare $2.00
Ten Tickets $15.00
Weekly Pass $16.50

Adults
Cash Fare $2.00
Ten Tickets $17.00
Weekly Pass $18.50

Seniors (65 years of age or older)
Cash Fare $2.00
Ten Tickets (must show Senior I.D.)$10.85
Senior Annual Pass (use with Transit Photo I.D.)$187.50
Senior Monthly Pass (use with Transit Photo I.D.)$18.75