Tell the TTC that higher fares aren’t fair

The TTC and YRT have a survey in progress to gain the public's opinions on future fare options that will lead to a Five Year Fare Policy and Ten Year Outlook. The purpose of the survey is to develop fare policies that reflect the recent demographics of the growing population. 

Take the TTC survey before February 18

Fill out the TTC’s online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/TTCYRTfarepolicy  Scroll down for some suggested responses.   You can also complete the survey by calling: 1-833-949-3273

Why take the TTC’s survey? 

At the very end of the survey, you can volunteer to be part of a focus group about the fare policy. We encourage transit riders to volunteer for a focus group, especially if you are earning a low income, receiving social assistance, disabled, or a person of colour, so that the TTC hears from people most affected by their policies. Even though the survey is flawed and doesn’t ask riders important questions about how the high cost of fares impacts us, taking part means your feedback will be reflected in the TTC and YRT report. 

TTCriders has also created our own survey about fares

Fill out the TTCriders survey here to tell us how you are affected by the high cost of fares, barriers you face to accessing transit, and more. We will create a report based on the results and share your responses with the TTC and the public. 

Your guide to taking the TTC’s survey (and why we think it is flawed)

As transit expert Steve Munro points out, the survey fails to ask riders important questions about fare integration and how higher fares would affect us. The survey also suggests that our fares pay for repairs and new buses, which is not true. Read more from Steve Munro’s blog

TTCriders has reviewed the Transit Fare Survey and has come up with possible responses to some of the problematic questions that don’t address the real issues at hand. You can copy and paste them as you fill out the survey so we have a collective impact. We’ve started with what we think are the most important questions. 

TTC Survey Question 19:

“Fare equity” does not mean that some riders should pay more to subsidize discounted fares. In fact, this is the opposite principle of the existing Fair Pass discount, which is subsidized by the City of Toronto budget through property taxes. Fare and service integration must be subsidized by the provincial government, or riders could end up paying more to travel further. This survey question is also flawed because rider fares do not pay for capital expenses like buying new vehicles, installing elevators, or maintenance and repairs. 

TTCriders comments you can copy and paste into Question 20: 

Riders shouldn’t pay more to subsidize discounted fares or increase service. City Council must increase its subsidy to TTC and fully fund lower fares. 

You can add further comments about fares and affordability under TTC Survey Questions 13 and 18:   

Write your own comments or copy and paste this text:

The transit change that would make the most difference to me is [PERSONALIZE YOUR RESPONSE]

The TTC and City Council must make bold changes to our fare policy to make our city fairer and encourage more people to ride transit after the pandemic. People living on low incomes depend on transit the most. Fare-by-distance will hurt low income rider, especially in Scarborough and Etobicoke. The shift to PRESTO has made transit access more difficult in some suburban neighbourhoods. The current Fair Pass TTC discount is unaffordable for people receiving social assistance. 

TTC Survey Question 9:

TTCriders suggested response: Strongly Disagree

Why? Between 2009 and 2016, the TTC monthly metropass increased by 30% (from $109 to $141.50), while the minimum wage increased by 20% (from $9.50 to $11.40). A transit dependent family of four, with two working parents earning the minimum wage spends between 20% and 35% of their after-tax and after-rent income on TTC fares. The TTC monthly pass is the second least affordable in Canada. Additionally, low-income adults aged 20 to 64, as a group, pay the highest TTC fares.

TTC Survey Question 10: 

TTCriders suggested response: Strongly Disagree

The TTC is a public service. The TTC normally relies on rider fares for approximately 70% of its operating budget. All three levels of government should subsidize the TTC so it can increase service levels and lower fares. The TTC has the most expensive monthly pass in Canada and the TTC is often overcrowded, delayed, and inaccessible. With the current COVID pandemic it is important to tackle the issues of overcrowding on transit. 

TTC Survey Question 11:

TTCriders suggested response: Strongly Disagree

The shift to PRESTO has limited access to purchasing fare media, which is only available at Shoppers Drug Mart and subway stations. The fare options do not fit the needs of many folks needing to transfer between various transit agencies (such as the MiWay and TTC, or Zum and TTC). This leads to many paying double fares when transferring between agencies or if crossing municipal boundaries, which punishes the riders.  There should be fare subsidies for people crossing municipal boundaries and other modes of public transportation. The provincial government should bring back the co-fare discount which gives a discount to riders transferring between GO and TTC who use Presto cards.

TTC Survey Question 12:

With the highest public transit ridership in Canada, Toronto offers the second most expensive low-income pass (right after Victoria). 

Latest posts

How are your Don Valley West candidates promising to improve public transit?

We’ve asked candidates whether they’ll invest in more TTC service, protect door-to-door Wheel-Trans service, expand TTC’s low-income discount, approve fare capping and more. View candidates’ detailed answers to our survey, information about their transit platforms, and more.

Letter & Survey: TTC must exchange expired tokens and tickets

Do you still have TTC tokens or paper senior/student tickets or day passes? The TTC has announced that they will stop accepting TTC tokens and paper tickets after December 31, 2024. But the TTC will not be issuing exchanges. This is unfair to people who have saved up tokens and tickets, especially low-income seniors. Gift cards and permanent stamps never expire --  why are transit fares any different?

“Rally to Fix the TTC” calls for investment in repairing subway slow zones during National Transit Week

(Toronto, ON) – Transit advocacy organization TTCriders will hold a rally today at 5:00pm outside Bathurst Subway Station to call on federal Members of Parliament to invest in TTC repairs and new subway trains on Line 2 by accelerating implementation of the Canada Public Transit Fund. The rally is part of a national “Transit Action Week” being organized in 5 Canadian cities. (Cantonese, Mandarin, French spokespeople available.)

Take action

Add your name for Fare Capping!
Tell Your MP: Sign the Transit Pledge
Bus lanes now
Protect Wheel-Trans Service
Keep and Expand Free TTC Wi-Fi!

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