The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is taking action against fare evasion by phasing out ‘no-tap’ gates at its subway stations.
‘No-tap’ gates automatically open for certain eligible customers, instead of requiring a TTC collector to manually open the gate after fare payment.
The initial location to implement these changes will be the Sheppard subway station, with a gradual rollout of the policy system-wide, according to TTC.
The study conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 was the first examination of fare evasion post-COVID-19 pandemic, based on observations by undercover TTC personnel.
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The revenue lost due to fare evasion could otherwise be utilized to enhance service, TTC stated. Passengers caught evading fares may face a fine of up to $425.
“The fares we collect assist us in limiting fare hikes, providing service, and managing our system. Failure to pay your fare impacts our ability to fulfill these responsibilities,” as per the TTC website.
Passengers have various payment options, including cash, debit or credit cards, mobile wallets, TTC tickets, tokens, and PRESTO cards or passes.
TTC mentioned that a collector will be available at the Sheppard station to aid those affected by the changes, such as children under 12, support persons, individuals with paper transfers, or those using cash, tokens, or TTC tickets. The TTC staff member will manually open the gate.
TTC has identified several forms of fare evasion, including entering a subway station through a bus bay, boarding a bus or streetcar without payment, and falsely claiming a lower fare, such as a youth, senior, or student rate.
Fare evasion also encompasses individuals who enter a fare gate without payment, like pushing through a gate, jumping over it, or closely following someone who has paid their fare.
In a March report, TTC mentioned that streetcar services witnessed the highest fare evasion at 29.6 percent, up from 15.9 percent in 2019. Buses had the second-highest rate of fare evaders at 12.9 percent, increasing from 6.3 percent in 2019. TTC stations saw a rise in fare evasion from 2.4 percent in 2019 to 6.3 percent in 2023.
