The City of Victoria says starting today, free December bus passes for youth are now available at city hall.
The bus passes are available for anyone 18 and younger in the City of Victoria and can be used starting Dec. 1.
Victoria youth, their parents and/or guardians will be required to provide documentation that confirms their address is in Victoria.
In June, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission approved a City of Victoria motion to provide free transit for all youth who live at an address in the city no later than Nov. 30, 2019.
Earlier in November, motion passed at a Victoria Regional Transit Commission Meeting approving a U-Pass for the City of Victoria, to be purchased by the city at a rate of $11.25 per pass per month. The city is expected to bulk purchase of 7,200 bus passes.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said the city is still working with the Greater Victoria School District to convert a student card into a U-Pass, like the University of Victoria, but it won’t be done this calendar year.
Helps said that the cost of the bus passes this year will be covered by parking revenue from 2019 and 2020. From September 2020 onward, the cost of the bus passes is expected to increase to around $925,000 a year.
“Currently 12 per cent of trips to, from and within Victoria are on public transit. As a part of the city’s goals to improve affordability and reduce GHG emissions, Victoria has set a target to achieve 25 per cent transit mode share by 2030. Over the coming year, the city will work with community partners to establish a more permanent program that could include an annual transit swipe card that is distributed through schools and community hubs,” the city said in a statement on Tuesday.
Youth transit passes will be available each month for pickup at city hall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Victoria City Hall is located at 1 Centennial Square.
The following forms of identification are acceptable to confirm both age and City of Victoria residency:
- BC Health Services Card with current address
- BC Identification Card with current address
- BC Driver’s Licence with current address
If a youth does not have one of the above with a Victoria address, the following documents are accepted to prove age and residency:
Proof of Age:
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Indigenous and Northern Affairs Status Card
- International Student Identification Card
Proof of Residency:
Any two (2) of the following documents:
- Current property tax statement
- Current homeowner insurance documents
- Current renter insurance documents
- Current utility bill with address (City of Victoria, BC Hydro, Shaw, Telus, etc.)
- Current Canadian bank statement with address
- Current credit card statement with address
- Current BC Vehicle registration with address
- Valid BC Driver’s license with address
- Valid BC Identification card with address
- Purchase agreement for home
- A rental agreement or lease signed with landlord’s contact phone number
- Current year property Notice of Assessment (BC Assessment)
- Income tax notice of assessment issued in current year
Each montly pass will provide unlimited rides on BC Transit bus and handyDART services (for registered handyDART customers). The city said no replacement transit passes will be issued for lost or stolen cards. Youth are allowed to start the program at any time with passes available mid-month.
Youth transit passes will be available each month for pick up at city hall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Victoria City Hall is located at 1 Centennial Square.
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