The TTC is proposing to raise fares by another 10 cents in the new year, with the biggest increase set to come for seniors, students and youth.

The 2020 increase, outlined in a newly released budget submission, will be the ninth increase to TTC fares since 2009. Fares were frozen in 2018.

If approved through a budget process that is just getting underway at city hall, adult cash fares and single-use Presto tickets would stay flat at $3.25. Senior and youth cash and Presto fares, and adult Presto fares that are not single-use tickets, would increase by 10 cents.

The biggest single increase would be for Presto monthly passes for seniors, post-secondary students and youth over the age of 12, which would increase by $5.70, from $122.45 to $128.15 — a 4.65 per cent increase. Adult monthly passes would increase by $4.85 to $156 monthly.

Those who qualify for the TTC’s discounted pass would also see fare increases under this plan. Single fares would increase by five cents and the monthly pass by $3.85, making the monthly pass $123.25.

At the same time, the budget would see the TTC’s service in 2020 increase by 128,211 hours, which is a 1.4 per cent increase over 2019 — a change highlighted by TTC CEO Rick Leary in a letter sent to commissioners late Friday afternoon and obtained by the Star.

But at that rate, Coun. Gord Perks (Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park) noted the increase in service would not even keep pace with population growth.

“Which means,” he said “the morning mosh pit is getting even worse ... in this budget.”

Mayor John Tory hailed several aspects of the new budget on Friday and said fare increases would be necessary.

“I support continuing and improving service further in 2020, not cutting it back despite what will again be a tough budget year, and notwithstanding the city’s significantly increased support, all of these initiatives necessitate a fare increase,” Tory said in a statement.

The budget request comes a day after the TTC board debated a five-year service plan, which included the need to purchase new streetcars and buses, for a total $779.5 million. Of that, $745.5 million is unfunded.

The 2020 budget does not include funds for the new vehicles needed.

The capital budget, which pays for repairs and new projects, is proposed at $36.1 billion over 15 years, of which $26.1 billion is currently unfunded.

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Tory introduced a plan last week to raise property taxes by eight per cent over the next six years to benefit transit and housing projects. But, even if approved by council next week and dedicated entirely to transit, the $6.6 billion those tax revenues would allow the city to borrow won’t be enough to cover all of the needs of the TTC.

The TTC board meets Dec. 16.

With files from Ben Spurr

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