BARRIO – TTC fares will increase by 10 cents per ride as part of a proposed $53 million increase to the transit agency’s budget this year, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced Wednesday.

Riders are being asked to pay more following two years of fares being frozen, even though ridership remains lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. A single ride currently costs $3.25. 

“While this is a challenging year for the city, we are investing to keep transit safe, improve service, and support seniors and low-income residents,” Tory said in a news release.

The proposed plan will also allow an additional 50,000 low-income residents to opt in on the Fair Pass Transit Discount Program, aimed at making the TTC and Wheel-Trans more affordable, the city says.

Riders are currently allotted free two-hour transfers, and children under the age of 12 can ride for free. TTC fares will also continue to be frozen for seniors and all monthly passes, the city says.

Tory is also planning to hire 50 more special constables for the TTC, which has recently seen a string of violent attacks, including two homicides within the last year. A recent report by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 also found that 73 per cent of respondents have reported violent experiences on public transit and 50 per cent reported harassment.