Getting around Toronto by transit without breaking the bank is a concern for many voters in the upcoming municipal election.
From fare freezing to ride caps to refunds for long delays and tougher penalties for fare evasion, the city’s three leading candidates for mayor have a wide range of ideas on how to make transit more affordable.
Keir Moulton, a daily TTC rider, says he manages fine with current fares, but worries about commuters in tighter financial situations.
“I could see it being a burden for lower-income folks who need to get to work and have to travel on the TTC, particularly a series of buses,” he told CBC Toronto. “I think … a sliding scale would be great.”
So, what are Toronto’s top candidates promising to make transit more affordable?
Mayor Olivia Chow has promised to freeze TTC fares again in 2027 and to reduce the current fare cap down to 10 rides per week. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Chow vows fare freeze and lowering current fare cap
Mayor Olivia Chow’s campaign outlined her commitment to freeze TTC fares again in 2027, in a statement to CBC News. That would mark the fourth freeze in as many years.
The mayor has also proposed a weekly fare cap of 10 rides — meaning once a rider pays for 10 trips, any additional trips in that same week would be free.
Chow spearheaded the current fare cap at 47 rides per month. The new plan would reduce that number to 40 rides a month, which her campaign says is already accounted for in the city’s 2026 budget.
The statement also pointed to Chow’s record securing the TTC’s participation in the GTA “one fare” program, restoring pre-pandemic service levels while increasing frequency, and building the new Scarborough Busway in three years.
August Puranauth, campaign manager for TTC Riders, says the transit advocacy group is in favour of further fare capping.
“We really want to see deeper affordability out of the fare capping program,” they told CBC Toronto. “Pushing to 10 rides a week … you ride every single day a week, then you get free rides on the weekend — that would have a big impact.”
Bradford promises audit and 15-minute refund guarantee
Brad Bradford’s campaign provided a statement saying he won’t make any decisions about TTC fares until he’s able to run an independent, line-by-line audit of all city and TTC spending.
It’s the same approach he’s taking when it comes to property taxes, promising a one-year freeze while such an audit is conducted.
Bradford is also vowing to implement a 15-minute service guarantee, with his campaign statement declaring: “If your bus, streetcar, or train doesn’t arrive within 15 minutes, you get your money back.”
Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford says he won’t make any decisions about TTC fares until an independent, line-by-line audit of all city and TTC spending is conducted. (Spencer Gallichan-Lowe/CBC)
For Puranauth, the refund approach misses the mark.
“I think riders would much rather their vehicle was not late that often that they need to have refunds,” they said.
Chris Alexander looks to fix TTC’s operating shortfall
Meanwhile, Chris Alexander’s campaign provided a statement outlining potential new revenue streams to make up the TTC’s projected 2027 operational shortfall of $390 million.
Under his plan, PRESTO fares for adults would increase from $3.30 per trip to $3.40. He’s also proposing a 10-cent rush hour surcharge.
Chris Alexander wants to introduce new revenue streams to make up the TTC’s projected 2027 operational shortfall of $390 million. (Craig Wadman/CBC)
At the same time, Alexander wants to reduce costs for seniors, students and low-income riders.
He’s projecting these changes would generate $43 million in additional revenue to help balance the operating budget.
Alexander is also vowing to crack down on fare evasion, saying doing so would restore even more lost revenue for 2027 – estimated at $57 million.
Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute and professor of geography and planning at the University of Toronto, told CBC Toronto raising fares to recoup the shortfall isn’t likely to be an effective strategy.
“A small fare increase actually brings in a relatively small amount of money in the scale of what the TTC’s overall budget is,” he said. “To put all of the service quality or improvements on the fare box is going to make the service cost prohibitive for many.”
While there are dozens of candidates on the ballet, Chow, Bradford, and Alexander are the only major contenders with detailed public plans for TTC fares.
A full list of candidates can be found on the city’s website.