The TTC is proposing a 10-cent fare increase for the coming year as the transit agency works to address a projected 2017 budget shortfall of $61 million.
The proposed fare change would see the price of a token rise from the current $2.90 to an even $3.00, while all other fares would increase by 10 cents aside from cash fares that already increased to $3.25 earlier this year.
Cash fares for seniors and students would see an increase, however, rising from $2.00 to $2.10.
READ MORE: From 3 cents to $3.25: a brief history of TTC fare hikes
The cost of a regular Metropass would also grow to $146.25 from $141.50, while senior and student Metropasses would cost $116.75, from a previous $112.00.
Children under the age of 12 would continue to ride for free under the new proposal, as part of a policy introduced by Toronto Mayor John Tory in 2015.
The TTC said the fare increases would generate an estimated $27 million in revenue, as well as an estimated ridership loss of 1.2 million passengers.
If approved, it would mark the sixth straight year that the transit agency has increased fares.
READ MORE: TTC board votes to hike cash fares by 25 cents, tokens by 10 cents
Advocacy group TTCriders condemned the possible fare increase in a statement Thursday, adding it would “hurt riders and send our transit system on a race to the bottom.”
- Mother’s Day Miracle: Rare medical intervention saves high-risk pregnancy for Ontario woman
- Mayor says Ottawa will reverse course on Israel national day event after cancellation
- TSX edges off recent record after blowout jobs report, U.S. stock markets mixed
- Teenage boy arrested after stabbing on Pickering, Ont. bus
“When you cut service and hike fares riders leave, and that’s only going to make the TTC’s budget crisis even worse,” Executive Director Jessica Bell said.
The group added fares have been rising much faster than inflation and budgetary shortfalls are due to “governments failing to fairly fund the TTC.”
The TTC’s shortfall was initially estimated to be about $231 million but would be reduced by an estimated $170 million if the fare increase is approved, according to a report being brought forth at a TTC board meeting Monday.
READ MORE: Tory not backing down on request TTC cut budget, though agency struggles to find savings
The transit agency said $35 million of the $61 million shortfall is due to the TTC, while the other $26 million is related to Wheel-Trans.
The initial shortfall estimate of $231 million took into account Tory’s request that all city departments reduce their budgets by 2.6 per cent — which would total a $15.8 million loss for the TTC.
TTC spokesman Brad Ross declined to comment on the report and said a decision will be made Monday.
Coun. Josh Colle, chair of the TTC, did not respond to a request for comment.
Comments