The Toronto Transit Commission voted during an emergency meeting on Wednesday to increase fares to help alleviate a $94-million shortfall.

Cash fares will remain at $2.75 for a single ride, but all other fares, including student and senior prices, will increase.

The new price list is as follows:

  • Monthly metro passes increase from $99.75 to $109
  • Tickets and tokens bought in bulk will will increase from $2.10 to $2.25

The fare increase, which will be implemented in November, will net an approximate $39 million for the cash-strapped TTC.

TTC General Manager Gary Webster said all upgrades and improvements to services will also be suspended as the city flounders to survive under a fiscal crisis.

Suspended updgrades include:

  • A plan to expand surface-route hours of operation
  • The addition of 100 peak-hour buses

"Our plan was to continue our efforts, add services and to improve the quality of service to our customer," Webster said Wednesday.

Webster said even with the fare increase and the suspension of improvement, the TTC will still face a shortfall of $35 million.

"If we can't afford $35 million, the next step we would take would be to recommend the elimination of all the poor-performing routes," Webster said.

Staff has also evaluated closing:

  • Sheppard subway line
  • Scarborough RT
  • Spadina Subway north of St. Claire West

All lines facilitate transit for approximately 20,000 commuters a day.

TTC Chair Adam Giambrone said the fare hike will likely keep a reduction in services at bay.

"No one wants a fare increase but this way is the best way to protect service and to improve services moderately to meet our existing standards," Giambrone said.

"Quite frankly, putting it off is merely to bury your head in the sand."

The TTC has been ordered to slash $30 million from this year's operating budget and $100 million from next year's budget.

The city is currently facing a budget shortfall of nearly $575 million.

City departments were warned of large cuts to services after two proposed taxes were deferred until after the October provincial election.

The proposed land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee would have raised $350 million for cash-strapped Toronto.

With a report from CTV's John Musselman