City to implement discounts for low-income TTC riders

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The City of Toronto is looking to implement discounts for low-income TTC riders.

According to the City, once the 2018 budget is approved in two weeks, Toronto will be investing $4.8 million to implement the “Fair Pass” across the TTC system as soon as possible.

The Fair Pass will make transit more affordable for 200,000 low-income transit riders by cutting their fares by up to one-third of the original cost.

“We need to make sure transit is affordable and accessible for everyone in this city,” said Mayor John Tory in a statement. “Transit connects people to jobs, to their cultural and economic hubs, to their families and friends.”

The City says that a transit-dependent family of four, with two working parents earning the minimum wage, spends between 20% and 35% of their income on TTC fares.

“The City’s 20-year Poverty Reduction Strategy has effective policies to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Advocate Joe Mihevc. “The Fair Fare Pass is the single biggest initiative to help low-income working families and adults.”

The Fair Pass will be rolled out in three phases:

Phase 1 – starting in 2018 – includes Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works clients not in receipt of transportation supports.

Phase 2 – starting in 2019 – extends eligibility to residents receiving housing supports or child-care fee subsidies whose household income fall under the Low-Income Measure +15% eligibility threshold.

Phase 3 – starting in 2020 – extends eligibility to all other Toronto residents living with an income below the Low-Income Measure +15% eligibility threshold

The discount under Fair Pass for those eligible is 33% for the adult single TTC Presto fare; and 21% for the adult monthly pass.

“Through the implementation of PRESTO across the TTC, we now have the ability to provide innovative concessions that will have a positive impact on our commuters,” said TTC Chair Josh Colle. “With Kids Ride Free, the hop on-hop off transfer, and the Fair Pass, we are making life more affordable for our residents and further encouraging transit ridership.”

City Council’s 2018 Capital and Operating Budget meetings are on February 12 and 13.

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