A Toronto city councillor wants to put the brakes on fare evasion on the TTC.

In a report that will be before the TTC board of directors next week, Ward 21 Coun. Joe Mihevc calls for staff to provide an “approximate value” of the money lost to fare evasion and bring forward some ideas on how to reduce it.

The TTC currently estimates that about 2 per cent of its potential revenue is lost to fare evasion.

“In my own experience of riding the streetcar almost every day, I have yet to see a fare inspector. I do wonder how many folks entering the rear doors have a Metropass,” Mihevc writes in his report. “While still early, my fear is that we are losing a lot of revenue. We need to get a handle on what we are losing and how we can recover these needed dollars.”

There are about 60 TTC fare inspectors currently on the job but that number is expected to hit 80 by later this spring.

Speaking with CP24 on Friday, spokesperson Brad Ross said that fare enforcement is still a relatively new concept for the TTC and urged Mihevc and others concerned about fare evasion to be patient.

“This is very new for the TTC and for our customers. We are very much in the education and information stage. It was really just December when all streetcars became proof of payment,” Ross said. “We still need to ramp up more fare inspectors but by the end of this spring we will be up to our full compliment. While you may not see a fare inspector for several weeks, you may see one at the end of the day next week.”

In his report, Mihevec said he wants TTC staff to report back on the willingness of drivers to verify payment as well the “growing confidence by patrons to enter (streetcars) without paying.”

Mihevc also said he wants staff to provide information about the likelihood of riders using a pre-recorded sound to defraud the Presto system.

Here is a list of some of the other issues Mihevc would like TTC staff to look into:

  • Youth riding stating they are twelve
  • Late night shift: when back doors are not opened, passengers are observed attempting to enter via the back and then pay cash/ticket/token upon using the front doors
  • Transfer use practices and policy knowledge
  • Lack of respect for driver authority, and driver willingness to verify receipt of full payment