Commissioners approve fare increase, Student Metropass prices for all post-secondary students

Commissioners approved a fare increase effective Jan. 3, 2010. The fare increase will see a change in adult fares of 25 cents – tokens will cost $2.50, and cash fares will cost $3. Student and Senior fares will increase by 15 cents, and Child fares will rise by five cents.

Commissioners also decided to limit the fare increase on Adult Metropasses to $121. As well, the board redefined who qualifies for a Student Metropass.

Effective September 2010, anyone enrolled in a post-secondary degree- or diploma-granting program will be able to purchase a Metropass at the Student rate. Commissioners also limited the fare increase to Student and Senior Metropasses.

The fare increase is expected to generate up to $45 million in revenue for 2010. The complete 2010 Operating Budget will be considered at the Dec. 16 Commission meeting.

Eglinton Crosstown LRT presentation

Commissioners received a project assessment report on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line from Pearson Airport to Kennedy Station. The preferred design for the 32.6-km light rapid transit line includes:

  • A 14.6-km west aboveground section from Pearson Airport to Black Creek Dr., including a new bridge crossing Hwy. 401, west of Renforth Dr.
  • A 10.5-km central underground section from Black Creek Dr. to Brentcliffe Rd.
  • A 7.5-km east aboveground section from Brentcliffe Rd. to Kennedy Station (with an underground section for Don Mills Station at Don Mills Rd).

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be built in three stages: Commerce Stop to Eglinton West Station by 2016; Eglinton West Station to Kennedy Station by 2018; and Commerce Stop to Pearson Airport by 2020.

The Transit Project Assessment Study is scheduled for completion in May 2010.

Commission approves conceptual design for Highway 407 Station

Commissioners approved the conceptual design for the Highway 407 Station on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension. Highway 407 Station will be located west of Jane St. and south of Hwy. 407, on the west bank of Black Creek. The station is designed as a multi-modal transportation hub with 600 commuter parking spots, a 30-space passenger pick-up lot and 18 bus bays for YRT and GO buses. There is also a provision for a future connection to the proposed Hwy. 407 Transitway.

The station design will be shown at a public open house next January, followed by a second public open house in the summer of 2010. The contract to build the station is scheduled to be awarded in October 2010.

Presto participation

Commissioners endorsed the TTC’s participation in the provincially lead, GTA-wide PRESTO Smartcard System (for fare collection) conditional upon acceptable operating and financial agreements being established between the TTC/City of Toronto and the province, Metrolinx and the federal government, which address the TTC’s business needs.

2010 Commission meeting schedule

Commissioners approved the meeting schedule at Toronto City Hall for 2010 as follows: Wednesday, January 20; Wednesday, February 17; Thursday, March 25; Wednesday, May 5; Wednesday, June 2; Wednesday, July 14; Wednesday, August 25; Thursday, September 30; and Wednesday, December 15.