Toronto transit riders would see nearly 200,000 additional hours of service under the 2026 budget approved by the TTC board on Jan. 7, alongside a third consecutive fare freeze and the introduction of fare capping.
According to a TTC news release, the board approved combined operating budgets of $3 billion for the conventional transit system and Wheel-Trans. That represents a 6.8 per cent increase over the approved 2025 budgets.
The budget now moves to the city for consideration through Toronto’s 2026 budget process, except for the fare policy items. The board’s approval is therefore a step in the wider municipal budget process, rather than the final city decision on the spending plan.
The fare freeze would keep fares unchanged for a third year, while the TTC says fare capping is intended to make travel more affordable. The release does not specify the cap’s threshold or implementation date, nor does it identify which routes would receive the additional service hours.
Mayor Olivia Chow said the budget’s affordability measures and service additions are intended to help Toronto residents get to work, school and home without having to choose between transit and other essential expenses.
TTC Chair Jamaal Myers said the spending plan links investments to performance measures, with an emphasis on affordability, reliability, safety and accountability to riders.
Long-term capital spending
The recommended capital budget and plan totals $16.7 billion for 2026 through 2035. It includes an additional $1.36 billion for longer-term work related to maintaining assets in good repair, reliability, safety and legislative programs.
TTC CEO Mandeep S. Lali said the operating and capital investments would support incremental improvements for customers. He also said the budgets would help the agency deliver service during the World Cup, which he said would bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Toronto.
