"The Toronto Transit Commission wants to freeze fares for a third straight year, while the city agency can't afford the repairs needed to keep the system riders rely on fully functional over the next decade. The intention to leave fare prices where they are was shared Tuesday as part of a presentation on the 2026 operating budget to the commission's strategic planning committee."
"Committee member Coun. Dianne Saxe said it is close to miraculous that the TTC found a way to continue freezing fares while planning to improve service. But she said that's only possible with a $1.4 billion subsidy from Toronto — a spend the city itself can barely afford. Even with that, it's clear we are in very big financial problems, she said during the meeting, referring to an unfunded backlog of infrastructure and equipment upkeep work in the capital budget."
"She said the TTC and city politicians need to take every opportunity to share that message with higher orders of government in the hopes of accessing more funding. The unfunded state of good repair backlog Saxe referred to has grown to $6.1 billion in the next 10 years, staff said. The presentation to the committee was a high-level overview of the budget, before it goes through the TTC board for approval at a later date."
The Toronto Transit Commission will freeze fares for a third consecutive year while lacking funds for necessary repairs over the next decade. The 2026 operating plan depends on a $1.4 billion subsidy from the City of Toronto and heavy draws on reserves, including using about half of reserves to balance the budget. A $6.1 billion unfunded state-of-good-repair backlog for vehicles and infrastructure accumulates over the next ten years. Planned service improvements risk being undermined by urgent, unfunded maintenance and equipment work essential to sustain system reliability. Additional funding from senior levels of government is being pursued amid strained municipal finances.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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