Riders of the 506 Carlton line are the TTC’s worst fare evaders, while those on the 511 Bathurst are the network’s most law-abiding.

That’s according to new numbers from the TTC that tracked fare evasion rates on streetcar lines during the first six months of the year.

A report going before the transit commission’s board on Tuesday shows that evasion rates across eight streetcar routes were relatively consistent, ranging from 2 per cent to just under 4 per cent. The TTC targets a rate of about 2 per cent.

Carlton topped the list with a rate of 3.79 per cent, followed closely by the 505 Dundas (3.73) and the TTC’s busiest streetcar route, the 504 King (2.93). The 511 Bathurst car had the lowest rate, with just 2.01 per cent.

Brad Ross, a TTC spokesperson, said the agency has no explanation for discrepancies between fare evasion rates on different routes. But he noted that the TTC only switched to a proof-of-payment (POP) system on all its streetcar lines in December 2015, and customers are still getting used to it.

“I think there’s still education happening out there amongst some riders so I wouldn’t want to speculate why some lines are higher, some lines are lower,” he said.

The POP system lets riders board through the rear doors of cars as long as they’re able, if asked, to produce evidence that they’ve paid, such as a transfer, pass or Presto card.

Ross also noted that the way in which fare inspectors are deployed can have an effect on evasion numbers.

The report, released Wednesday, documents the first half of a year-long pilot project the TTC board requested to determine the most effective model of fare inspection.

Its results could set the TTC on a kinder, gentler course to fighting fare evasion. The fine for refusing to pay TTC fare is $235.

The current iteration of the fare inspection program was launched in 2014. Under it, inspectors were allowed to carry handcuffs and batons and wear dark, police-like uniforms.

Some board members were concerned about the inspectors carrying weapons, however, and launched the pilot to test out another model.

For the pilot, the inspectors were divided into two groups — one of 17 inspectors who wore the conventional “public safety style” grey uniforms and were equipped with batons and handcuffs, and another of 35 officers that wore modified “customer friendly” white uniforms and did not carry batons or cuffs.

Last week’s report favoured the latter model after determining that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the evasion rates they recorded or incidences of assault against inspectors.

(The streetcar-route evasion rates cited above are taken from the white-uniformed group, which was the larger of the two. The lines ranked differently according to the grey-uniformed group.)

Councillor Joe Mihevc, who sits on the TTC board, said he agreed with the recommendation to disarm the fare inspectors and lighten their uniforms.

“The choice before the commission was, ‘Do you look more like a police officer or more like a customer service representative?’ ” he said. He said the report shows “you don’t have to look like a big tough burly guy to do security. You can look like you’re customer friendly and do an even better job.”

Over the course of the pilot, the inspectors checked 1.1 million people, or about 3 per cent of total ridership. The industry standard is inspecting 4 per cent to 5 per cent of ridership.

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They identified 30,800 violations, a rate of 2.7 per cent. Of those, most people, 82 per cent, got a verbal warning, while 12.7 per cent were issued a provincial-offences ticket.

Ross said the TTC is moving toward issuing more tickets as customers become familiar with the POP system.

The TTC has estimated that fare evasion costs about $20 million a year in lost revenue. The agency has an approved a complement of 69 inspectors, plus 11 employees in supervisory or administrative roles.

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