What to know
- The new TTC monthly fare cap starts Sept. 1, with riders paying for their first 47 trips in a month and getting additional TTC rides free for the rest of the month.
- Riders do not need to sign up, but they must use the same payment method for every trip throughout the month. Switching between a PRESTO card, debit or credit card will cause trips to be tracked separately.
- Youth, Adult, Senior and Fair Pass monthly passes will be discontinued after Aug. 31, along with Youth and Senior 12-month passes. The Adult 12-Month Pass and TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass will remain available.
- Trips within the existing two-hour transfer window do not count separately toward the 47-trip cap. The cap applies only to TTC rides, not trips on other regional or provincial transit services.
- The cap will automatically reset on the first of every month, and Mayor Olivia Chow says the city hopes to lower it to 40 trips by 2027.
Starting September, Toronto commuters will only be required to pay for 47 trips, with the rest of their rides free for the remaining of the month.
The new rule is part of a TTC monthly fare cap announced by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on Thursday at the Victoria Park Station.
To benefit from the cap, commuters must pay with the same method of payment, including a physical or mobile PRESTO card, debit card or credit card. Once they hit 47 trips, the rest of their monthly rides will automatically be free.
Some monthly passes discontinued
As the cap kicks in, Youth, Adult, Senior, and Fair Pass Transit Discount Program monthly passes, as well as Youth and Senior 12-month passes will be discontinued as of Aug. 31.
According to the TTC, the cap means those who wish to benefit from monthly discounts won’t have to decide whether to buy the pass based on predictions of how much they will take transit beforehand, as the cap will automatically kick in after 47 rides.
At the same time, commuters who use the Adult 12-Month Pass and TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass are advised to continue to purchase them to get “the best value.”
“You get all the benefits of a monthly pass without having to buy one,” Chow said on Thursday.
According to the mayor, the cap could be beneficial to those who commute daily to work every day, as they are likely to hit 47 trips before the end of the month.
“If you take the TTC to work every day, and that’s 44 rides in September, add one or two nights out, and you’ll hit the 47-trip cap. After that, every ride for the rest of the month is free,” she said.
At the same time, the mayor argues the cap will also benefit those who take transit less often, as they won’t have to pay for a monthly pass in advance at the risk of not riding enough to make the pass worthwhile.
“If you have a month where you don’t ride as much, you never have to overpay,” she said. “Until now, you have to shell out 156 bucks for a monthly pass, but if the rent is due or you just don’t have the cash, you end up paying per trip and spending more over the month.”
The mayor also said her goal is to drop the cap further to 40 rides a month by 2027.
TTC cap rules
In order to benefit from the cap, commuters must utilize the same payment method throughout the month. If they switch between methods, their trips will be registered separately, and it might take more than 47 rides to reach the discount.
Paid trips are counted as the first tap that begins a two-hour transfer window. Any other taps within those two hours don’t count toward the cap, as they are free.
The TTC notes that riders should also keep tapping with the same method after the cap kicks in, even if they won’t be charged.
The cap will automatically start on Sep. 1, and riders don’t need to sign up to benefit. It will also automatically reset on the first day of each month.
Commuters should also note that the fare caps only apply to TTC vehicles, with other regional and provincial trips remaining the same.
‘A long time coming’: Locals react to the cap
After the announcement came through, commuters online shared their thoughts about the cap, with many applauding the move.
“This is genuinely a great change and honestly the cash flow piece doesn’t get talked about enough. Not having to drop $150+ in one lump sum right when rent and bills hit is a real difference for a lot of people, pay as you go for the same discount is just a smarter system. Well done!” one person wrote on Reddit.
“I don’t get to directly benefit from this, but I still applaud it. Let’s get more cars off the streets,” another user said.
“This has been a long time coming, and is most welcome! A real change that will have a positive impact on a lot of people,” a different person said.
Other users also praised the move, but said that a 40-ride cap could be more beneficial for many commuters.
“40 ride cap would mean I ride free on weekends after commuting to my job [downtown] during the week. Heck ya,” one user said.
Meanwhile, some users questioned whether discontinuing monthly passes could create disadvantages for those who use the Fair Pass Transit Discount Program and seniors.
“Monthly Discount Plan riders should keep going as the MDP is still cheaper than the cap. Cap is just equalish to the normal monthly pass,” one person pointed out.
“How does this affect folks on Social Assistance who receive monthly passes or the money with expectation to purchase one from the government?” another Redditor questioned.
