Transit advocates made the trip to city hall yesterday to warn councillors that the reduced-cash-fare issues won't end with today's budget vote.

"This issue is not going to die, no matter what happens (today)," said activist Nick Ternette, who organized a gathering of concerned groups at city hall yesterday while the executive policy committee met behind closed doors. "This will be an election issue."

The fight to reinstate 85-cent cash fares for seniors and students has been gaining momentum over the past month. The public works committee voted in February to reinstate it and a number of councillors who last year voted to up cash fares to $1.50 have recently changed their minds.

Groups ranging from Choices, a social advocacy group, to the Manitoba Society of Seniors and the North End Riders Association all say that offering reduced fares only when riders buy 10 tickets is cost prohibitive for the poor.

The issue will be part of today's budget discussions. A vote to reinstate the cash fare would lead to haggling over where to make up the approximately $500,000 revenue shortfall the move would create by the end of the year.

Last week, the executive policy committee tried to head off the debate by proposing to sell tickets in sheets of five, and encouraging store owners to sell them one at a time.

"I'm appalled at that recommendation," said Margo Lavoie of the Oblate Justice and Peace Committee. "People have to walk to the outlets in order to get the reduced fare."