Fare policy has to be judged by whether it grows ridership, and the TTC's own analysis is clear that increases cost rides. A system that prices out its riders does not save money, it loses them.
I want to be straightforward about the math. A fare freeze, no service cuts, and no offloading onto the property tax base only balance if the provincial and federal governments contribute what peer systems receive. That is why my answer on funding in the previous section is not a throwaway, it is the precondition for everything in this one. I will push hard for that funding, and I will not pretend riders can be asked to close the gap.
Fare capping and an expanded Fair Pass are the most direct tools we have for the riders with the least room in their budgets, and they should not wait.