The TTC plans to recommend a 10-cent fare increase in its 2019 budget, and will reveal the transit agency requires $33 billion over the next 15 years to meet its capital needs, the Star has learned. The transit agency is expected to release its proposed budget Friday ahead of a board meeting scheduled for next Thursday. A source with knowledge of the documents confirmed the TTC intends recommend increasing the price of fares by about 3 per cent, which would mean tokens and adult Presto fare card taps would rise by 10 cents, to $3.10. The cost of an adult monthly pass on Presto is also expected to rise.However, the agency doesn’t plan to recommend a change to cash fares, which are set at $3.25. New TTC Chair Jaye Robinson told the Star earlier this month that she wouldn’t support a fare increase.Read more:What does the future hold for the TTC? We ask councillors on board to weigh inPresto to cost TTC millions more than current fare systemLaw to upload responsibility for Toronto subway to province coming in springBut speaking Thursday morning before any details of the budget had been made public, Mayor John Tory said that, since he first took office four years ago, he’s consistently said it’s reasonable for riders to expect fares to gradually go up.“I said, at that time, that people should expect, because it’s a healthier way to proceed, that you will examine, each year, the prospect of an inflationary-type increase, because the TTC, itself, faces expanded costs,” he said. He cited rising costs such as the new collective bargaining agreement the transit agency reached with workers in October, and the new two-hour transfer policy, which is expected to cost $20 million this year. The board will have to approve the budget, including any fare increases, before sending it to council for final approval in March.If approved, the fare increase would be the eighth to hit TTC riders since 2009. Fares were frozen in 2018, but the yea ...
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