03/2023
Published on CityNews Toronto
Written by Mark McAllister and Meredith Bond
The Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT) is again calling on transit agencies to collaborate to create fare integration across the GTA.
A new report details zone-based fares after uncovering that fare integration would provide the ability to maximize the region’s mobility network, renew ridership and positively impact the businesses within Toronto.
[…]
Leslie Woo, the CEO of CivicAction and the former Chief Planning Officer at Metrolinx, tells CityNews this discussion has been going on for decades.
“I think it has the potential, and so doing because of all those things to support the restoration of ridership in the region. There’s been a great negative impact due to the pandemic,” Woo said.
Woo explained for fare integration to happen, the region needs collaboration from all parties, governments and resources.
“This is something that benefits everyone collectively because it will help the region in terms of its competitiveness its affordability. Without that, it becomes difficult,” said Woo.
“Getting all levels of government to the table is important, and then recognizing that the culture, the systems, the talent and the expertise for a fair integration system may be different than what you have now,” she added. “It’s about choices and how we prioritize, the capital and the ongoing cost to carry the integration system.”
“People are not bound by the political lines and boundaries that currently determine how fares are set and unset.”