Update — January 1, 10:12 p.m.: The TTC has inconsistent information on its website. This page indicates that the cost of a Metropass is the same both currently and after the fare increase, while the TTC’s news release explains, more accurately, that the cost of the pass is increasing.
Update — January 1, 10:10 p.m.: Transit Toronto reader Allan Vander-Spek has pointed out an error in this post so we have now updated information on the cost of a Metropass. Thank you, Allan.
The good news is that you can start buying and using tokens again after Sunday, January 3. The bad news is, of course, that TTC fares rise on the same day.
Starting Sunday, as an “adult” — meaning that you’re older than 19 and younger than 65 — you’ll pay 25 cents more when you ride TTC buses, streetcars, subways and rapid transit trains.
Adult cash fares go up to $3 from $2.75. You can buy tokens in bunches of five for $12.50, instead of $11.25, or in bunches of ten for $25, instead of $22.50. Monthly Metropasses increase from $109 to $121 each month.
Fares increase for children, students and seniors, too. You can find out more about the new TTC fares here.
As soon as TTC staff recommended that the Toronto Transit Commission approve increasing fares at its November meeting, thrifty transit passengers started buying tokens in bulk to reduce the impact of the fare increase — even though the Commissioners hadn’t even approved the increase yet.
Hoarding of tokens resulted in many TTC vendors quickly selling their entire supply of tokens. Frightened of losing large amounts of revenue in 2010, the TTC decided first to reduce the number of tokens that each person could buy to ten at a time, then five at a time, then stopped selling tokens entirely.
Since Monday, November 23, the TTC has only sold temporary adult paper tickets, instead of tokens, although it continued to sell passes to passengers.
Starting Sunday, January 3, the TTC again sells tokens and new student, senior and children’s tickets and day passes.
After Sunday, until Sunday January 31, you can still use the temporary adult tickets, if you also add a quarter to your fare. Drivers and fare collectors will not accept the temporary tickets as valid fare unless you pay the extra 25 cents. Students, seniors and children can also use “old” tickets with extra cash — 15 cents for students and seniors and five cents for children
You cannot use your old temporary adult, old student, senior, and child tickets or old day passes after January 31. And, you cannot exchange old temporary adult tickets at all at any time after January 31, so you should make sure you use your tickets before then.
You can, however, return old TTC student, senior or child tickets to the TTC which will refund their original value. TTC staff will not refund the cost of old day passes, but you can exchange them for a new pass if you visit the TTC in person.
Starting Monday, January 4, you can get a refund for your old student, senior or child tickets — or exchange an old day pass — in person at:
TTC MDP Office (above Davisville Station),
1900 Yonge Street
Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
From February 1 to March 31, 2010, you can get a refund for your old student, senior or child tickets — or exchange an old day pass — in person at:
Bloor - Yonge Station Collector Booth
(Bloor Street south-side entrance)
Mondays to Fridays, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
If you would like to get a refund of the cost of your old student, senior or child tickets by mail, starting on Monday, January 4, you can write to:
TTC Accounts Payable
1900 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 1Z2
The Hamilton Street Railway is increasing fares tomorrow, Friday, January 1. You can find out more about other recent transit fare increases in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton here.
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