TTC might raise cash fare to $3.25

A fare increase may be hitting Toronto commuters in 2016. The current cash fare of $3 hasn't moved since 2010. However, according to a Toronto Star report, the TTC has made a very early projection on its 2016 operating budget and its currently forecasting a $99 million shortfall.

The TTC and the city haven't made any decisions yet. Rather, they're looking at a number of options - one of which could be a cash fare increase. When they raised the price of tokens by a dime on March 1, for instance, it added $29 million to the TTC's operating budget. At the same time, they also upped the price of adult metropasses by $7.75.

Starting next year, the TTC will begin to phase out tokens and tickets in favour of Presto cards. These antiquated payment methods will fade away by 2017. TTC board chair Josh Colle said, as noted in the Star, that the transit company will likely have to increase cash fares in order to get more riders on board with Presto.

What do you think of these possible fare hikes? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Tanja Tiziana in the blogTO Flickr pool.