TTC could offer seniors $1 fare in proposed pilot project

Should seniors be allowed to ride the rocket for just $1 during off-peak hours? That's at the heart of a motion city councillor Vincent Crisanti will introduce on Wednesday.

Crisanti, an Etobicoke councillor and member of the TTC's board, has put forward a motion requesting the transit agency's CEO, Andy Byford, report back to the board by June 22 about the feasibility of a six-month pilot project that would let seniors ride for a reduced fare.

• Children to ride TTC free, other fares to rise

Seniors already pay lower fares than most TTC riders. The cash fare for people over 65-years-old is $2, while a monthly Metropass is $112.

The TTC has already changed its fare structure once this year.

As of March 1, children under the age of 12 have been able to ride the system's buses, streetcars and subways for free.

For adult riders, the $3 cash fare per ride stayed the same. But the price of a Metropass went up almost $8 to $141.50 and the price of a token increased by 10 cents increases Toronto Mayor John Tory said would generate an estimated $43 million.

The TTC board is set to formally introduce Crisanti's motion at its Wednesday afternoon meeting.

The board will also hear the results of the TTC's customer satisfaction survey for 2014. And it will get an update about TTC service during this summer's Pan and Parapan Am Games.