Word just broke that the TTC has voted to increase fares by 15 cents for ticket/token purchases. Monthly passes are also looking at a hefty $11 price hike. Provided that city council votes to accept the fare hike (which they likely will, given their current financial woes), the new fares will go into effect on November 4th.

To avoid service cuts, or closing down entire lines like they were mulling over with Sheppard, the board has decided a fare hike is the way to go. TTC General Manager Gary Webster, denounced the idea of service cuts in the staff report released today, saying, "The message really is from the public, 'Preserve my service is my first priority. Don't cut my service. If you have to do anything I guess you can raise my fares if you have to, but really the first choice is raise my taxes and my fares, then cut my service.'"

Judging by the results of a survey conducted by our friends over at Torontoist, Mr. Webster is mostly correct in his assertion. I only say 'mostly' though, because Torontoist's results say over 70% of surveyed readers would be willing to pay at least an additional 10 cents per ride to see a better TTC.

This proposal doesn't promise a better TTC, it promises the same TTC without any service cuts. Granted, I'd be personally willing to pay more to avoid seeing service cuts across the board, but not everyone is going to agree with this.

In the revised fare structure, adult single ride cash tickets/tokens will remain at $2.75, with ticket/token fares jumping from $2.10 to $2.25. The Metropass will see about a whopping $11.25 raise to $111, and a weekly pass will jump from $30 to $32.25. Increases are relative across the board for students, seniors, and children, as well. A full listing of the revised fares is available at the bottom of the budget crisis report, produced by today's board meeting.

How much is too much? The TTC has consistently hiked fares over the past several years and their ridership has continued to increase, so either we've all got no other option, or they're still well within bounds of acceptable pricing.

Photo by blogTO Flickr pooler boukesalverda