Transit advocates are asking Toronto to follow the lead of Niagara Region and Alberta's largest cities by introducing a low-income transit pass for the TTC. Yesterday, Niagara Regional Council approved a $110 reduction in the cost of their transit system's monthly pass for eligible applicants, from $160 to $50. Local politicians initially proposed a more modest price decrease but advocates pressed hard for more robust help for the neediest transit riders. Andy Petrowski, the St. Catharines city councillor who spearheaded the move, said that the reduced cost will particularly assist job seekers: “This gives people who are looking for work or moving to work, traditionally in lower-paying positions, an opportunity to use (regional transit) for the first time.” Niagara is also hoping to boost ridership on their regional transit system through this targeted fare reduction.
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.