Toronto Transit Commission vote on fare hike, student discounts

The Toronto Transit Commission will vote today on the possible fare hike that will see everything be raised but also the chance that students will be given discounts.

Earlier this month, Digital Journal reported that the Greater Toronto Area’s public transit system may jack up the fares across the board. The standard fare is currently $2.75 but that could be increased to $3 and a monthly Metropass is $109, which may possibly be $126 come January 3 and a lot of Torontonians were not happy about it. The TTC will vote on Tuesday on increasing the fares, according to CP24, which would bring $62 million in revenues for a near $100 million budget deficit. However, TTC Chairman Adam Giambrone is looking at extending discounts to high school, college and university students. “That's exactly the target group we want to get on transit, they're young people, they're going out and doing things, they're paying full adult fares, yet they have much lower incomes,” said Giambrone, reports City News. If students receive the discount then a Metropass would be $18 cheaper than the current adult Metropass at $91.25. Nevertheless, it has been reported that if a fare hike is approved then it will cost the TTC 12.5 million riders. The TTC will vote on Tuesday at 1 p.m. and if passed fares could be hiked as soon as January 3.