Chow says TTC freezing fares, improving service as part of latest budget

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says the TTC is planning on freezing fares for 2025 in its latest budget.

Citing an affordability crisis for residents, Chow said that fare pricing will remain frozen for a second year in a row.

“We’re making the TTC the better way, one step, one station, one bus stop at a time,” Chow said.

She made the announcement alongside TTC Chair Jamaal Myers and TTC CEO Greg Percy at Wilson Station Tuesday as they unveiled the latest proposed operating and capital budgets for the TTC.

The freeze means that for most people, a single adult fare will continue to cost $3.30, while seniors (65+) will pay $2.25 and youth (13-19) will pay $2.35.

At the same time, Chow said, the transit agency will be working to improve service across the network and to create a “cleaner, brighter and safer TTC.”

Planned improvements include a pilot program to fix bus bunching and gapping on 10 routes – terms for what happens when several buses end up travelling close together, leaving longer gaps in service.

The budget also promises “six-minute or better” service frequency for streetcars on Dundas, St. Clair and Bathurst from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week starting in the fall. Off-peak subway service on lines 1 and 2 would be five minutes or better and six minutes or better on Line 4.

The city also plans to pilot a “station manager” position for a handful of busy subway stations. The station management and cleanliness pilot program will run at six stations: Scarborough Town Centre, Kennedy, Dundas, Finch, Spadina and Lansdowne.

Chow said riders can expect to see “better looking, cleaner, brighter stations” with improved audio announcements.  

The TTC’s proposed 2025 operating budget totals $2.82 billion, and seeks a 6.5 per cent increase in funding from the city over last year.

The $16.4 billion 2025-2034 capital budget adds $5.12 billion more than last year’s 10-year capital budget, mainly due to partnerships with other levels of government.

It includes $2.3 billion for new Line 2 subway trains, $2.4 billion for 700 eBuses and charging systems, hundreds of millions for critical subway and station repairs and more.

Chow said it represents “a historic investment in state of good repair the likes of which we have not seen in over a decade.”

The latest budget also includes revenue projections for the long-overdue Eglinton Crosstown (Line 5) and the Finch West LRT (Line 6) starting in July and August. However it notes that the projections are just for budget purposes only and that Metrolinx, which is building the two lines, has still not confirmed an opening date.

The latest budget will be considered at a meeting of the TTC Board on Jan.10 and will then head to council as part of the wider city budget process.

Other highlights include:

• 10 street outreach workers will be added on downtown streetcar routes, with an initial focus on the overnight routes. The workers will focus on connecting unhoused individuals with city services. Funding will be provided through Shelter and Support Services
• $2.6 million to fund 69 new fare compliance positions, including 56 fare inspectors, supported by 10 special constables and three program staff
• Hiring and training more operators
• Service would increase on nine of the most crowded routes by April
• Additional Wheel Trans service to account for a 12 per cent boost in new registrants due to “changing demographics”

TTC CEO Greg Percy (left), TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, and Mayor Olivia Chow unveil the TTC's 2025 budget Tuesday January 7, 2025.