Affordability is about more than the price of a single ride. If fares stay the same while service becomes less frequent, delays become more common, or vehicles and stations become less safe or maintained, then the value riders are getting for a fare is worsening even if the cost stays the same. A fare freeze should not come at the expense of gradually degrading the service people depend on, particularly when the TTC already faces a significant maintenance backlog.
Affordability and reliability work in tandem to grow ridership. Hypothetically, transit could be free, but if people cannot depend on it to get them where they need to go on time, many still will not use it. Likewise, reliable service that people cannot afford is not truly accessible.