TTC fares rose on Sunday, which also marked the first day children 12 and younger are able to take buses, streetcars and subway trains for free.

Mayor John Tory told reporters that the approximately $39 million raised by the higher prices will go toward a $100-million plan to improve service. The rest of those improvements will be funded by property taxes, he said.

Tory said the plan includes buying 50 new buses, some of which will start rolling later this year. In the meantime, some buses that are currently parked at certain times of the day will be running more often, he said. Two extra subway trains will be added too.

Meanwhile, children under 12 can now ride for free, which Tory says is a boon to families “who really need help.”

“We have reduced the cost of those people getting around by hundreds of dollars a year,” he says. “This is going to make a substantial difference.”

TTC employees will decide who is 12 or younger using an "eyeball test," he said. "I think most kids are going to be honourable in the way they behave," he added.

The March 1 price increase is 10 cents per token or ticket. Seven tokens now cost $19.60 instead of $18.90. Ten-packs of senior and student tickets now cost $19.50 instead of $18.50.

Cash fares, however, remain $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students with the proper ID.

Metropasses have gone up by several dollars. Adult passes went from $133.75 to $141.50, while student and senior Metropasses went from $108 to $112.

Day passes have gone up from $11 to $11.50.

Tory had campaigned on a promise not to raise fares in 2015, but after being briefed on the budget situation by TTC CEO Andy Byford, he said he came to the conclusion a fare hike was best.

Tory told reporters Sunday that he recently met with provincial and federal representatives to ask for more transportation funding.

“The bottom line is this: it was past high-time for us to make this investment,” he said.