The Red Ripoff - The TTC is the most expensive transit system in North America

In 2012 the TTC served 514 million rides to users throughout the GTA. For 2013, that number is expected to rise to 528 million rides and with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. But despite the rapid growth, the price of transit in Toronto continues to skyrocket. THE RED-RIPOFF Across all major measures the TTC continues to be the priciest transit system in North America. Here's how the comparison breaks down: The TTC is the most expensive transit system in North America. II BASE CASH FARE VS. MULTI FARE 11I1 $3.00 I$2.65 Toronto With its $3.00 base fare, the TTC has one of the highest base fares in North America. The multi fare rate (tokens, weekly passes, etc.) is similarly among the most expensive. New York $3.25 I$2.40 Montreal i$3.00 More telling is the lack of two-way transfers anywhere in the TTC system. This effectively doubles the cost of short trips, a tough pill to swallow for the many downtown residents of the city. I$2.45 I$2.00 $2.00 Boston Base Cash Fare Multi Fare $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 METRO PASS COST TRIP INDEX METROPASS METROPASS It takes 48 trips for a user to receive the full value of their TTC monthly 48 TRIPS 47 TRIPS Toronto, by far, has the most expensive monthly metro pass rate. Even New York, with it's much larger metropass. $120... $126 35 TRIPS That's commuting to 31 TRIPS work for all 22 days $110.. $112 $100.. in a month, plus an additional 2 trips on system, is significantly -.... cheaper than Toronto's. $90... weekends. This index is unmatched $80.. in North America. -.... $77 $70... $70 Toronto New York Boston Montreal Toronto New York Boston Montreal III FARE RATES FOR SENIORS 111II BUT WHY IS THE TTC SO EXPENSIVE? Base fares for seniors are also the highest on the continent at $2.00. Ottawa matches this rate, but offers free Wednes- days and two-direction transfers to compensate, none of these are offered by the TTC. % fare revenue I% non-fare revenue 55.5% The TTC has a high farebox recovery ratio. This means that it relies hevily on fare-based $2.00 71.3% Toronto Toronto New York New York $1.10 revenue to cover its operating expenses, much more so than other similar transit Montreal $1.40 systems in North America. 43.7% 57.1% Boston $0.25 Montreal Boston $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 Sources: http://www.blogto.com/city/2013/02/is_the_ttc_still_the_most_expensive_transit_system_in_north_america http://en.wikipedia.org/wlkl/FareboK_recovery_rationFarebax_ratios_around_the_world Design by Jordan Knoll KI jordan-knollcom In 2012 the TTC served 514 million rides to users throughout the GTA. For 2013, that number is expected to rise to 528 million rides and with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. But despite the rapid growth, the price of transit in Toronto continues to skyrocket. THE RED-RIPOFF Across all major measures the TTC continues to be the priciest transit system in North America. Here's how the comparison breaks down: The TTC is the most expensive transit system in North America. II BASE CASH FARE VS. MULTI FARE 11I1 $3.00 I$2.65 Toronto With its $3.00 base fare, the TTC has one of the highest base fares in North America. The multi fare rate (tokens, weekly passes, etc.) is similarly among the most expensive. New York $3.25 I$2.40 Montreal i$3.00 More telling is the lack of two-way transfers anywhere in the TTC system. This effectively doubles the cost of short trips, a tough pill to swallow for the many downtown residents of the city. I$2.45 I$2.00 $2.00 Boston Base Cash Fare Multi Fare $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 METRO PASS COST TRIP INDEX METROPASS METROPASS It takes 48 trips for a user to receive the full value of their TTC monthly 48 TRIPS 47 TRIPS Toronto, by far, has the most expensive monthly metro pass rate. Even New York, with it's much larger metropass. $120... $126 35 TRIPS That's commuting to 31 TRIPS work for all 22 days $110.. $112 $100.. in a month, plus an additional 2 trips on system, is significantly -.... cheaper than Toronto's. $90... weekends. This index is unmatched $80.. in North America. -.... $77 $70... $70 Toronto New York Boston Montreal Toronto New York Boston Montreal III FARE RATES FOR SENIORS 111II BUT WHY IS THE TTC SO EXPENSIVE? Base fares for seniors are also the highest on the continent at $2.00. Ottawa matches this rate, but offers free Wednes- days and two-direction transfers to compensate, none of these are offered by the TTC. % fare revenue I% non-fare revenue 55.5% The TTC has a high farebox recovery ratio. This means that it relies hevily on fare-based $2.00 71.3% Toronto Toronto New York New York $1.10 revenue to cover its operating expenses, much more so than other similar transit Montreal $1.40 systems in North America. 43.7% 57.1% Boston $0.25 Montreal Boston $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 Sources: http://www.blogto.com/city/2013/02/is_the_ttc_still_the_most_expensive_transit_system_in_north_america http://en.wikipedia.org/wlkl/FareboK_recovery_rationFarebax_ratios_around_the_world Design by Jordan Knoll KI jordan-knollcom