Why Isn’t The T.T.C. Free On New Year’s Eve?

Take Durham Transit on New Year’s Eve after 8pm and the ride is free.

Get onboard a bus in Mississauga on December 31st after 7pm, and it won’t cost you a dime. 

The same goes for Brampton Transit and the GO Train.

And the T.T.C.? You’ll need to shell out the full fare.

All the other local transit companies across the G.T.A. are doing their part to get drunk drivers off the road by offering an incentive they hope most New Year’s Eve revellers can’t refuse – a free ride.

“Ontario Power Generation are supporters of this and they’ve stepped up to the plate and are providing funding and Durham Region is covering its costs,” explains Durham Transit’s Phil Meagher.

“They’re offering free GO rides on all trains and buses that run on a Sunday. New Year’s Eve is on Sunday this year,” outlines GO’s Ed Shea.

So why can’t the Red Rocket run in the red for a few hours?

“It costs us well over $2 million, $3 million a day and we can’t afford it,” admits T.T.C. Commissioner Joe Mihevc.

Toronto Transit has allowed the freebie in the past, but that was with corporate sponsors. When those dried up as costs rose, so did the no fare policy.

And many riders think that’s no fair.

“Drunk driving is a major problem on New Year’s Eve and it would prevent people from doing that,” complains student Jack McLean.
 
“It did seem the price of a couple bucks isn’t too much to ask for being safe for everybody else in the community,” adds commuter Lorne Vinberg.

So for now, if you drink and drive you’ll be paying for it. Although hopefully just on board the T.T.C. – and not at a R.I.D.E. spotcheck.

For a complete list of transit schedules for New Year’s Eve, click here.