Kelowna looks to ease transit costs with proposed discount program

Kelowna City council is being asked to advance a plan to make public transit more affordable for low-income residents across the Central Okanagan.

The proposal would launch in 2027 and create an Affordable Transit Program offering a 50 per cent discount on select passes for eligible adults, youth and seniors. Eligibility would be based on Statistics Canada low-income cut-offs, with additional access through community agency referrals for residents who cannot provide standard documentation.

City staff say the program would bridge the gap between emergency transit supports and regular fares, noting many residents fall into an affordability grey zone where they do not qualify for assistance but still struggle to pay full price. The plan also includes discounted day passes and HandyDART ticket packs to ease upfront costs for riders with accessibility needs.

Public engagement in 2025 found strong support, with more than 60 per cent of respondents saying they had cut transit use due to cost and 84 per cent saying they would apply if eligible.