The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is rolling out a new campaign reminding everyone about the importance of paying fares and warning those who steal rides that they are subject to fines.

“The TTC is not free, and even with a significant City of Toronto operating subsidy, we rely heavily on fares. They fund safe, reliable service for hundreds of millions of customers every year and they allow us to keep those fares reasonably priced,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary. “We need those who willfully deprive our system of funds to understand that their actions have consequences, including less service for others and a fine for themselves.”

The TTC’s Fare Evasion Campaign

The TTC’s campaign comes as a new internal audit report shows fare evasion at an all-time high. The TTC’s auditors found that in 2023, fare evasion was at almost 12% and cost the system close to $124 million in lost revenue.

The numbers are almost double the 2018 review that placed evasion at around 6%, costing the TTC $60 to $70 million a year.

Over the past several months, the TTC has increased staff for both fare compliance and improved safety and security, which has included hiring fare inspectors, special constables, and 130 new stations staff who will be present at secondary entrances to address the issue of gate crashing and assist customers as needed.

The TTC also introduced a new fare collection process that ensures customers are treated with respect and provides enhanced accountability, including the creation of a complaints office.

“We have a team of dedicated, well-trained and compassionate individuals on staff who will treat our customers fairly,” Leary said. “I would hope that they are shown the same respect while they do their jobs.”

Measures to Increase Safety As Well

The issue of fare evasion is not unique to the TTC. Systems across North America and Europe are wrestling with fare evasion.

In their most recent studies, London’s TFL and New York’s MTA both reported hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue due to fare evasion. And agencies, including the MTA, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and San Francisco’s BART are implementing new fare gates and other measures to limit fare evasion.

Starting this week, a new campaign containing a variety of fare evasion messages will be rolled out across the TTC. The campaign focuses on the importance and benefits of paying proper fares while also reminding those who face financial difficulties about the City’s Fair Pass program.

Also, customers can expect to see increased fare inspection activity and more staff at locations known to be prone to fare evasion. Transit Fare Inspectors will be patrolling the downtown streetcar network and transfer points in stations and there will be an increased presence of supervisors and Special Constables on the bus network. These measures not only deter fare evasion, but they also help make the TTC safer through increased visibility of staff.

TTC staff will report back to the May Board meeting on responsive enforcement plans and the impact the new measures have had since the auditor’s study.