METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Toronto's '25 Budget Freezes Fares, Increases Frequencies, Safety

The $2.8-billion combined operating budgets for both the TTC conventional system and Wheel-Trans represent a 6.5% increase over the approved 2024 budgets and ensures safe, reliable, and affordable service for TTC customers.

January 13, 2025
Toronto's '25 Budget Freezes Fares, Increases Frequencies, Safety

The TTC's recommended 2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan of $16.395 billion is $5.1 billion higher than last year's Capital Budget and, represents the largest funding increase since 2019. 

Photo: TTC

3 min to read


The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) board approved its 2025 operating and capital budgets that freezes fares for the second straight year, adds the most service in a decade, improves system safety and cleanliness, and invests more than $16 billion in long-term capital projects.

The $2.8-billion combined operating budgets for both the TTC conventional system and Wheel-Trans represent a 6.5% increase over the approved 2024 budgets and ensures safe, reliable, and affordable service for TTC customers.

Ad Loading...

2025 TTC Budget Highlights

Highlights of the 2025 budget:

  • Freezes TTC fares at 2023 prices.

  • Allocates $33 million to preserve and build on service increases made in 2024 and address rising demand on weekends and evenings, as well as challenges posed by road congestion. The overall increased service hours will match pre-pandemic levels.

  • Increases Wheel-Trans funding by $14.2 million to meet the rising demand.

  • Establishes a pilot project on 11 routes across the city to reduce bunching and gapping of vehicles in real-time through enhanced on-street route management.

  • Funds operating and maintenance costs for the opening of Lines 5 and 6 in 2025 as well as full-year operations on the Line 3 SRT bus replacement service.

  • Creates a new subway stations management pilot program to add more staff and improve cleanliness at six priority locations (Scarborough Town Centre bus terminal, and Kennedy, Dundas, Finch, Spadina, and Lansdowne stations).

"I want to thank our Board and Mayor Chow for supporting considerable investments in our operations and long-term projects," said TTC CEO Greg Percy. "Bringing more customers to the TTC requires a system that is safe, reliable, and affordable, and these budgets accomplish that."

The additional investments reduce the TTC's SOGR funding backlog by almost 50% from $8.2 billion by 2033 to a projected $4.3 billion over the next 10 years.

Photo: TTC

Budget Increase 

The recommended 2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan of $16.395 billion is $5.1 billion higher than last year's Capital Budget and, represents the largest funding increase since 2019. 

Ad Loading...

Almost $4.9 billion of the increase is dedicated to crucial unfunded state-of-good-repair (SOGR) work, such as track safety and reduced speed zones and projects to make all stations accessible.

The additional investments reduce the TTC's SOGR funding backlog by almost 50% from $8.2 billion by 2033 to a projected $4.3 billion over the next 10 years.

Highlights include:

  • 55 replacement subway trains on Line 2 with the recently announced $1.5 billion matching Federal and Provincial funding ($2.3 billion total project cost).

  • Investments in approximately 700 eBuses and 950 charging systems totaling $1.2 billion over the next five years, with a total project cost of approximately $2.4 billion.

  • Bus, Streetcar, and Subway fleet overhaul programs directly resulting from the $500 million funding provided through the city’s reallocation of the Gardiner/DVP funding.

  • Targeted station/transit priority investments of $15 million over 2025 and 2026 to improve station conditions and aesthetics; to pilot a public address system upgrade and station lighting LED retrofit at six key stations and install red paint treatment on existing city roads, intersections and TTC stations to improve transit priority and safety and support fare compliance at station entrances.

     

More Management

A tan, blue, and green graphic with text reading "Record Ridership: World Cup 2026."
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 18, 2026

FIFA World Cup Matches Are Driving Record Transit Ridership Nationwide

See how World Cup matches are generating record transit demand across North America, with ridership surpassing Super Bowls, concerts, and Olympic-era events.

Read More →
Zero-emissions bus with FLEETWATCH technology
ManagementJune 17, 2026

The Hidden Cost of Fuel Data Inaccuracy in Public Transit Fleets

In today's transit environment, accurate fuel and mileage data are critical to reducing costs, minimizing downtime, and improving fleet performance.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A color graphic with LIT's logo and text reading "Now Accepting 2027 Host City Proposals."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJune 17, 2026

Latinos In Transit Seeks Host Organization for 2027 Leadership Summit

The selected host organization will showcase its transit system, projects, and community while welcoming hundreds of industry leaders and emerging professionals during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Read More →
Group announcing BUSES Act
Motorcoachby StaffJune 16, 2026

Bipartisan BUSES Act Seeks Changes to New York City's Bus Idling Enforcement Program

Backed by motorcoach operators, the legislation seeks to balance emissions goals with passenger safety by allowing limited idling for inspections, accessibility needs and extreme weather conditions.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
Manhattan Congestion Relief Zone Sees Traffic Reduction
Managementby StaffJune 15, 2026

Q4 Travel Data Reveals Drop in Vehicle Traffic to Manhattan Congestion Zone

NYMTC’s quarterly Travel Patterns Report provides a snapshot of travel activity throughout New York City, Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, and northern New Jersey using data collected from the agencies operating the region’s bridges, tunnels, and public transit systems.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →