Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

1 minute read

June 30, 2025, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

oasisamuel / Adobe Stock

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) could consider adopt lower “special event transit rates” to encourage people to take transit to major events such as concerts and sporting events.

According to a piece by Becky Robertson in BlogTO, “It's all part of a larger strategic parking framework that was approved by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee earlier this month, and is heading to City Council next week.”

The proposed transit fare reductions would be paired with a hike in parking fees. “The focus would be on-street parking in busy areas, with the goal of encouraging longer-term parkers — i.e., locals — to use off-street locations instead, thereby freeing up curbside spaces.”

TTC is not actively considering changing fares, but “it could be revisited with the next major iteration of PRESTO, which would make it technically possible.”

Thursday, June 19, 2025 in blogTO

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