There is growing speculation the provincial government could take over the Toronto Transit Commission, but officials for the public system are strongly opposed to the idea.

TTC chairman Adam Giambrone believes merging with other regional systems and dividing services would result in a lower quality of service for Toronto riders.

"We think it's going to be very serious for Toronto," Giambrone told CTV News on Wednesday.

The Ontario government has given the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority the mandate to plan the entire transportation network for the Golden Horseshoe. Merging the TTC with regional systems falls in line with the province's goal of providing a seamless system.

Such a system would divide service equally among what is now nine transit systems and make it simpler for commuters to travel across city borders, the Toronto Star reports.

The authority will also suggest ways to implement Premier Dalton McGuinty's $17.5 billion MoveOntario transit plan, which includes an ambitious light rail Transit City network across Toronto and extending the subway.

A source inside the provincial government told the Star there hasn't been any recent, serious discussion of a TTC move. The commission, however, isn't taking any chances, and is expected to roll out a public relations campaign in the coming months calling for more funding from the provincial and federal governments.

Giambrone, who says the TTC provides the highest quality of service of any transit system in the province, thinks a merger wouldn't work. He believes the province should offer more money to expand the TTC and let Toronto continue to run the operation.

He says most commuters would probably agree with him.

"No one cares about governance issues, I don't think. They just want to be able to get to work on time and have a safe, comfortable trip."

Mayor David Miller has said a provincial takeover would probably mean higher fares and a lower quality of service.

Meanwhile, commuters were hit with a fare increase on Tuesday, as the cost of a monthly Metropass rose to $109, an increase of $9.25. This is the first time a Metropass has exceeded $100.

Click here for a detailed list of the current fare prices.

With a report from CTV's Naomi Parness