Some Torontonians think purchasing monthly passes for the TTC is not worth it.
Currently, the cost of an adult monthly pass is $156, but some regular transit users have expressed skepticism about its value for money.
“It’s super frustrating that they don’t have a more accessible monthly pass,” a local woman, who said she uses the TTC often, told Now Toronto.
“I looked into it and you would have to take the TTC at least 12 times a week or something, for most people it’s not worth it at all,” she said.
Moreover, the woman said improvements to the service would not justify the current price.
“That’s something they need to work on regardless, either way you’re not getting a distinction in how much you’re paying for each trip, you still have to be able to travel a certain amount regularly in order to make it worthwhile.”
A local man who said he relies on transit to get to and from work told Now Toronto that the pass isn’t worth it because TTC services are unreliable.
“It should be $2.00 per ride and no more than $80 a month,” the man said.
Furthermore, people in a local subreddit discussing the issue say they’ve resorted to driving to work or into the downtown core after encountering repeated delays, disruptions, overcrowding, increased levels of homelessness, and witnessing illegal drug use and antisocial behaviour while riding the TTC.
“I drive because I don’t want to get stabbed on my way to work,” one person wrote.
However, for those without a car, unable to drive, or with a low-income, buying a pass or paying on a journey-by-journey basis is the only option.
There are subsidy initiatives available for people who fall into the aforementioned categories. For example, The Fair Pass Transit Discount Program provides discounted passes for low-income individuals and wheel-trans users.
“The discount is programmed onto a PRESTO card and saves cardholders 36% on TTC single adult fare rides and 21% on TTC adult monthly passes. Eligible City of Toronto residents must be 20-64 years old; meet the program’s definition of low-income, and have a PRESTO card,” according to the TTC website.
Furthermore, the TTC CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) transit card is free and available from the CNIB and provides clients who are legally blind and live in Toronto with unlimited travel on the TTC.
Now Toronto reached out to the TTC for comment but did not receive a response in time of publication.
