Niagara Falls Council is asking Niagara Transit to investigate the possibility of offering heavily discounted transit fares to seniors.  Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg had previously promoted the idea of removing transit fees for seniors altogether.  However, the issue is a controversial one because the amount of provincial gas tax funding for transit Niagara Region receives is influenced by the fare charged to riders. If a rider rides for free, that ride doesn’t count toward the provincial funding model. At a July 26 Council meeting, Niagara Transit corporate administration manager Jordan Hambleton told Councillors that Nieuwesteeg’s proposal will be investigated at a