Freedom Rides Transit With Unlimited Transfers

One transit rider sings the praises of an experiment that allows Toronto transit riders a two-hour window of unlimited transfers on the TTC system.

1 minute read

March 10, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Dupont Station, Toronto

DayOwl / Shutterstock

Shawn Micallef writes about the freedom Toronto transit riders have experienced since the TTC system enabled a free two-hour transfer window that allows unlimited use on a single fare in August of 2018.

"While we’re still at the mercy of TTC service, good or bad, the two-hour transfer has been one of the best changes to riding transit in decades," according to Micallef.

While the change has been expensive, costing the system $20.9 million annually by 2020, it's also paid off in new riders. The unlimited transfer window is expected to add 5 million extra trips a year, with 3 million by new riders.

"What the two-hour transfer does is fundamentally change how we can treat the TTC. Before it was linear, a way to get from A to B, and only A to B as you could not leave the system, and just one forward direction per fare was allowed," writes Micallef. "Now riding the TTC means entering a multidirectional system that we can access at any point, opening up the whole city."

Friday, March 8, 2019 in The Star

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360