The City of Ottawa will consider reducing transit fares for people with mental as well as physical disabilities.

If approved, the pilot project will allow anyone who qualifies for the Ontario Disability Support Program to buy a monthly bus pass at the current seniors' rate of $25.75.

A regular bus pass sells for $63.

Only disabled people with an income under the poverty line would qualify. That could include more than 15,000 people.

City staff say the pilot project will cost $715,000 in lost transit revenue.

The project would replace another one that allows people using wheelchairs, walkers and scooters to ride the bus free.