Toronto Transit Commission Mulls 11-15 Percent Fare Hike

November 6, 2009 2:35 p.m. EST

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - An 11 to 15 percent fare hike looms for riders of the Toronto Transit Commission by next year as the TTC staff will propose the increase at the company's Nov. 17 meeting.

If approved, tokens will cost $2.50 or 11 percent more. For adults, the fare increase would be by 25 cents, while for students and seniors their fare would go up by 15 cents. Children's fare will increase by 5 cents.

Aside from the tokens, the TTC plans to hike also the prices of Metropass, although along with the rate hike the number of trips pass holders could take would also go up to 50 from the current 48 trips. That means by Jan. 3, 2010, a Metropass would cost Toronto riders $126 from the current $109.

The proposed fare hikes is expected to bring in an extra $62 million to TTC's coffers in 2010. That would be sufficient for TTC to keep service levels at 2009 levels. About 70 percent of the transit's income is from fares. The last time TTC hiked it fares was two years ago.