Today, a single adult fare of $3.35 on the TTC can take you all the way from Etobicoke to Scarborough, and with the One Fare Program, you even get a free two-hour transfer to neighbouring transit systems like Brampton Transit, MiWay, and York Region Transit.
However, just a few decades ago, things were quite different on the TTC, and there once was a time when passengers paid based on the distance and zone they travelled.
On Sept. 1, 1921, the City acquired all of the assets of the Toronto Railway Company and transferred them and the Civic Railways assets to the TTC, and through this amalgamation, the TTC established a unified one-fare system that ran until 1953. Fares in 1921 were four tickets for 25 cents or a cash fare of 10 cents, with free transfers.
TTC route map in 1955. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
In 1954, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act came into effect, and the transportation services provided by the TTC were now under the responsibility of the Metro level of government. This resulted in an almost seven-fold increase in the TTC’s service area, expanding to 240 square miles from just 35 square miles.
Under the Act, the TTC purchased the assets of four independent bus lines that were operating in Greater Toronto, including the Hollinger Bus Lines, the Danforth Bus Lines, the West York Coach Lines, and the Roselands Bus Lines. The extension of services resulted in approximately 200 new bus schedules to numerous new bus stops.
TTC map in 1958. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Changing its name to the Toronto Transit Commission, the transit agency moved to a new fare structure, with one fare zone for the city’s core, and several suburban fare zones. In 1956, the number of zones was reduced to three, and to two in 1962.
Passengers boarding a TTC bus in 1957. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Effective July 1, 1954, the metropolitan area, along with the townships to the north and west, was divided into six zones, expanding outward in concentric circles from the Queen/Yonge intersection.
At the core was the Central Zone, which covered what was essentially the original City of Toronto. Surrounding it were suburban zones 2-5, each requiring an additional fare.
TTC Metro Transit System in 1960. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
By the early 1970s, the suburban zones had been merged, with Zone 1 now covering the old City of Toronto (formerly the Central Zone) and Zone 2 encompassing the rest of Metropolitan Toronto. Zones 3 and beyond were reserved for a few routes extending outside of Metro, such as buses to Richmond Hill, Woodbridge, and Port Credit.
On January 21, 1973, the TTC abolished its zone-based fare system due to increasing pressure and the need for greater subsidies to support its expanded suburban operations. Politicians and riders were frustrated by having to pay higher fares when crossing the boundary into the old City, despite contributing to the TTC through taxes.
Token machines in 1961. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
The situation was further complicated by the subway’s extension beyond Zone 1 starting in 1968, which pushed the boundaries of the old zones. As of January 1, 1973, Zone 2 was eliminated, and the TTC adopted a single, flat fare system across the entire City of Toronto, with free transfers. Monthly passes were officially introduced in 1980.
