Another Fare Hike Possible As TTC Faces $1 Billion Shortfall

Red Rocket riders might be red in the face Wednesday when they hear about yet another possible fare hike for the TTC.

There have already been two increases in the past year-and-a-half – once in March 2005 and another in April 2006 – raising the cash fare from $2.25 to $2.50 and most recently to $2.75.

But there could be another price spike in riders’ futures as the Toronto Transit Commission bosses say they’re facing a $1 billion shortfall.

They claim there are a number of reasons for the lack of funds, including requests to get new streetcars on the roads sooner and fix up the Scarborough Rapid Transit line.

But what transit officials are really upset about is the lack of provincial dollars in their coffers. They say that when Ontario cancelled its Transit Vehicle Program, $331 million disappeared.

There are also concerns about contributions from the federal government.

The commission says that money has to be made up somehow – and if it doesn’t come at the fare box in the form of a price hike it could come from higher property taxes.

“There’s no way a ridership hike in our ticket price could solve this problem. Five, ten cents brings in about $10 (million) to $15 million. We’re talking about $1.2 billion over five years,” said TTC vice chair and city councillor Adam Giambrone. “There’s going to have to be help from the province or people are going to have to expect older buses, a reduction in the number of buses, and this is at a time when ridership is growing at 15 to 20 million rides a year.”

According to a published report, the TTC also committed to buying buses when it thought the provincial funding was a done deal. Though that may have changed, the commission is still on the hook to buy the vehicles and will have to scrape together the cash somehow.

The $1 billion shortfall also doesn’t take into account plans to extend the subway line to York University – a plan announced last year by the provincial government.

More than 1 million people use the TTC to get to work each day. However, that number could go down if people opt to drive to work instead of paying more to ride.

TTC Fare Increases

Adult

Cash fare prior to March ’05: $2.25

After March ’05 hike: $2.50

As of April ’06: $2.75

Tickets & Tokens:

Prior to March ’05: $1.90 for one, 5 for $9.50, 10 for $19

After March ’05 hike: $2 for one, 5 for $10, 10 for $20

As of April ’06: $2.10 for one, 5 for $10.50, 10 for $21

Metropass:

Unchanged after March ’05 hike: $98.75

As of April ’06: $99.75

Day Pass:

As of March ’05: $8

As of April ’06: $8.50

Seniors/Students:

Cash fare prior to March ’05: $1.50

After March ’05 hike: $1.70

As of April ’06: $1.85

Kids

After March ’05 hike: $0.60

As of April ’06: $0.70

Here’s how Toronto’s transit fares stack up against other cities across North America:

Toronto – $2.75

Mississauga – $2.50

Hamilton – $2.10

Ottawa – $3.00

Calgary – $2.25

Edmonton – $2.25

Vancouver – $2.25

Halifax – $2.00

Montreal – $2.50

New York – $2.00

Washington – $1.25

Philadelphia – $2.00

Milwaukee – $1.75

Los Angeles – $1.25

Chicago – $1.75

Seattle – $1.50

Miami – $1.50

St. Louis – $1.75

Atlanta – $1.75