TTC (Toronto Transit Commission)

Every day about 1.5 million people navigate the largest city in Canada with the TTC’s buses, streetcars, and subways. Toronto’s public transit system is a safe, fast and easy way for tourists to get around downtown Toronto, and the large network of buses reach outside of the downtown core to transport commuters in and out of the city.

History of the TTC- Canada’s First Subway

The streets of Toronto were designed to comfortably accommodate the horse and carriages of the early 20th century. However as the years passed and the carriage trade gave way to an increasingly high volume of automobile traffic in the 1950s, it became apparent that the city needed a solution to help alleviate the worsening congestion.

On September 8th, 1949 construction began on “Canada’s First Subway.” In 1954, the Yonge Street line opened running north from Union Station to Eglinton Station. Subway lines running east and west were later added as well as a network of bus routes, making the city accessible to more and more Torontonians.

TTC Routes

The TTC operates about 700 subway cars and advertises their service as “Riding the Rocket.” There are three subway lines and one rapid transit line serving Toronto, with over 60 stations:

Yonge-University-Spadina Subway: There are 32 stations on this U-shaped route, which runs from Yonge Street and Finch Avenue East south to Union Station, then back north to the Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West area.

Bloor-Danforth Subway: This route runs east to west along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue. There are 31 stations and it connects with the Scarborough Rapid Transit route at Kennedy Station.

Scarborough RT: The Scarborough Rapid Transit has six stations and is like an above-ground subway. The route runs from the Eglinton Avenue East and Kennedy Road area to the Scarborough Town Centre, and then east to McCowan Road.

 Sheppard Subway: There are five stations on the Sheppard subway route which travels east to west along Sheppard Avenue East. This route connects to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line at the Sheppard-Yonge station.

There are more than 150 bus and streetcar routes which connect with the subway and RT stations, including several all-night routes and the downtown express buses. The TTC also runs the Wheel-Trans bus service, which provides accessible transportation for people with mobility challenges.

All Aboard- Fares and Passes

Cash, tickets, tokens or passes can be used to board the TTC. There are no zoned fares; the TTC operates on a flat-rate system where customers can ride an unlimited distance for one fee. Fares are discounted for seniors, students and children.

Purchasing tickets and tokens in bundles provides riders a cost savings, and for very frequent TTC customers purchasing a pass may be a good option. The TTC offers the following types of passes, which apply to all the regular TTC routes except for the downtown express services or routes that travel outside of Toronto:

Metropass: Very frequent users of the TTC would benefit from purchasing a Metropass, which allows unlimited travel on all regular TTC services. A Metropass can be purchased for a specific month or in advance for an entire year, and is transferable.

 Weekly Pass: A great option for tourists, the TTC Weekly Pass offers unlimited travel from Monday to Sunday on all regular TTC routes. This pass is also transferable.

 Day Pass: This pass allows unlimited travel on the TTC within a day and can be purchased in advance. Free parking at TTC commuter lots on weekends and holidays is also available with the TTC Day Pass.

 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Pass: The GTA pass allows customers travelling from Mississauga, Brampton and York Region to avoid the extra fare when crossing city boundaries.

 Convention Pass: Organizations can purchases TTC passes for participants at events such as conventions and tradeshows. Convention passes are only available through bulk sale and can be printed with a company logo. Contact the TTC at (416) 393-6746 for more information.

Tickets, tokens and passes can be purchased at all of the subway stations as well as at over 1,200 ticket agents throughout the city.

TTC (Toronto Transit Commission)

The TTC offers parking for your vehicle whether you ride a bike or drive a car. Several buses feature the “Rack It and Rocket” program where passengers can bring their bike aboard and park it on the bike rack at the front of the bus for no extra charge. For those who get to the subway station with a car, commuter parking is available at several TTC stations with certain lots offering free parking at off-peak hours. The TTC provides service to Pearson International Airport via four buses, including two overnight bus routes.

For more information about the TTC including service maps and route information call call 416-393-4636

Click here to visit TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) official website