Affordability

Olivia Chow is focused on making the TTC more affordable, to save transit riders money and attract new riders to the system. As Mayor, Olivia introduced fare capping at 47 rides per month, giving everyone the benefit of a monthly pass without the upfront cost. If re-elected, she will lower the cap to 10 rides per week and keep fares frozen for a fourth year in a row. She will work with post-secondary students and institutions, and low-income riders, to explore new ways to make the TTC even more affordable for them. 

My destination is a free, reliable TTC — transit as a public service, not a toll on workers. Until full free transit is funded, I commit to a fare freeze, lower monthly/weekly caps (40 rides or less monthly, or 10/week), Fair Pass phase 3 for low-income riders, and working with colleges and universities on student affordability. Pay for it by taxing billionaires and the wealthy through provincial and federal fair-share revenue, plus municipal tools that don’t punish riders. Fare hikes push people back into cars; that’s bad economics and bad congestion policy.

Just buy a presto pass if you are worried about fare capping 

The TTC should be capped at 1 ride payment per day.

When elected, I will work to make the TTC free at the fare box.  Completely covered by government.  I have nearly 20 reasons why this is the best choice for Toronto. 

No to the specific fare-cap, post-secondary affordability, fare-freeze, and Fair Pass commitments: none is a locked plank, and I will not invent fare policy or numbers. The locked standard is axe the tax by cutting the tax burden and apply fiscal discipline at the TTC by scrutinizing waste. Safety and competent delivery come first.

If elected, I want to make the TTC free for seniors, students and youth!

My platform goes beyond a fare freeze: I am proposing Free TTC in Toronto starting November 2026. Transit is essential infrastructure and the lifeline of our city. Removing fares would reduce the transportation burden on residents and allow people to use transit without having to choose between getting around Toronto and other essential expenses. I would also maintain and strengthen targeted affordability measures during the transition and work with other levels of government on sustainable transit funding.

Public transit should be affordable reliable and accessible to everyone, with Fair fares and support for seniors ,students, low-income riders and newcomers.

When a city maintains a robust, interconnected transit network, it delivers massive financial relief by providing a reliable alternative to a car. Low fares and fare freezes make transit more affordable but if they are not properly funded, service reductions and severe overcrowding can be the tradeoffs. 
For a late-night shift worker stranded at an unsheltered stop, saving a few cents on a fare may be of little consequence if the bus takes forty-five minutes to arrive or bypasses them entirely because it is packed to capacity.  True affordability requires an unwavering commitment to stable, long-term funding to ensure the system remains both cheap enough to use and dependable enough to trust.
As mayor, I would ensure that measures to enhance affordability such as fare freezes do not come at the expense of reliability. This means, actively advocating for stable operating funding from other levels of government and working to find operational efficiencies within the existing system.