TTC fare hike is probably coming just when no one wants it—in January

Something to contemplate as you wait on the crammed subway platform this evening: the Toronto Transit Commission is looking to raise fares starting January 1. If the hikes are approved by the TTC board and city council, a single adult token would go up five-cents to $2.70 and an adult Metropass would rise to $131. There is also the possibility of a 25-cent increase on the cash fares (which has been frozen at $3 since 2010) or an additional price hike that would bring the price of Metropasses to $133.75.

On CBC radio this morning, TTC CEO Andy Byford made his case to the public: with ridership expected hit a record 540 million trips next year, he explained, “I need more operators, I will be paying for more fuel, I will paying for more hydro to power the subway, we need more mechanics.” Byford emphasized that he is also lobbying all three levels of government for more cash, but he still needs riders to contribute their share—though he did have the grace to acknowledge it’s “a hard sell and I don’t feel good about that.” [CBC]