Here's how Toronto is reacting to the TTC's upcoming fare hike

It’s safe to say a lot of commuters in Toronto are unimpressed by the TTC’s fare hike announcement.

On Thursday, the TTC Board unanimously approved the 2019 operating budget, which includes a $0.10 fare hike for PRESTO users that will be taking effect on April 1.

According to the transit agency, in developing the nearly $2.1 billion budget for conventional and Wheel Trans services, the TTC found $135 million in efficiencies and offsets without impacting service.

They say that the fare hike will add $26 million in revenue, and the budget also called for an additional $22 million subsidy from the City of Toronto.

This budget protects services such as the two hour hop-on, hop-off service, capacity improvement initiatives, including more subway, bus and streetcar service, allowing kids 12 and under to ride free, and introducing early Sunday opening.

TTC Chair Jaye Robinson said the fare increase was a last resort.

“This budget allows us to retain the important investments in public transit services Toronto Council has approved over the past several years,” said TTC Chair Jaye Robinson. “Increasing fares is always a last resort, but in order to protect those services, we need to strike a balance between what’s affordable to our customers and to the residents of Toronto.”

Thursday’s vote came during one of the TTC’s worst weeks for commuters so far this winter.

The transit agency has encountered several delays since Monday, partly due to weather and partly due to signal problems.

Councillor Joe Cressy said that raising TTC fare reduces ridership.

“Raising TTC fares while keeping property taxes low is not the right way to balance the budget. In fact, it’s counterproductive,” he said. “Every TTC fare increase reduces ridership.”

Raising TTC fares while keeping property taxes low is not the right way to balance the budget. In fact, it’s counterproductive. Every TTC fare increase reduces ridership.

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) January 24, 2019

While fares did not rise in 2018, Torontonians are still pretty unhappy with the news.

After the week of miserable service, the #TTC riders are being rewarded with another fare hike

Do you agree ? pic.twitter.com/r15e213NbL

— PhotoSphinx (@PhotoSphinX) January 25, 2019

@TTChelps Doesn’t the TTC have some PR people on staff there who realize that releasing a fare hike on the same day of the worst service in TTC history is a bad idea? Couldn’t you just wait a day or two to announce this, just from a PR perspective???

— JacquelineMilevsky (@JacquelineDick) January 25, 2019

TTC needs to improve their subway services before thinking of hiking the price on fare.

— Naema Frances (@Neemwad8) January 25, 2019

What’s the excuse today #TTC? Just hours after you announce yet another fare hike, here we are, delayed once again!

— Charles (@5fifty5) January 25, 2019

Soooo @TTChelps thinks a fare hike is appropriate when everything is constantly delayed? Hmmm #TTC #Toronto

— Maisha. C (@_itsMaisha) January 24, 2019

#TTC a fare increase? Are you kidding me? How dare you continue to provide degrading service daily and have the audacity to increase fares, Screw you guys, all of you, get your shit together.

— John (@John84019439) January 25, 2019

A 10-cent TTC fare increase makes residents feel like their paying more for unreliable service.
A property tax increase to fund maintenance and increase reliability would’ve been better allocation of capital.
I think Toronto needs a mayor with business experience.#topoli

— Phillip Roh (@TOproh) January 25, 2019

And in true Toronto fashion, this one brought it all back… to the Toronto Raptors.

Take in how the same day the ttc announced that the fare is going up 10 cents, kawai buys a new crib in Cali…what else can go wrong pic.twitter.com/G6vxGFq0zg

— Virgo (@junezfinest8) January 25, 2019

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