City proposing program that would allow free transfers between Brampton Transit and TTC

The City of Brampton is proposing a pilot program that would reduce the cost of traveling between Toronto and Brampton.

During Wednesday’s (October 13) Committee of Council Meeting, a motion was passed for the City to request the Province, through the Ministry of Transportation, financially support a pilot program that would allow for free transfers between 905 Transit Agencies and the TTC at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

Over the past 10 years, in order to support the integration of transit services, transit agencies in the 905, have allowed customers to transfer to all other systems in the 905 at no additional cost with a valid transfer.

However, currently, customers transferring between 905 Transit Agencies and the TTC are required to pay an additional fare.

“What we’re trying to do is get integration between Brampton Transit and the TTC,” Councillor Harkirat Singh said during the meeting. “It’s important because a lot of our students take the TTC, specifically to York University, and the double fare is becoming an economic barrier to attend post-secondary education.”

Councillor Martin Medeiros added that this program would not only benefit students, but also those who live in Brampton but work outside the city.

“According to the numbers, there are many Bramptonians who work outside our community, so this would impact not just students, but also those who take the TTC to work,” he said. “I personally know the challenges of trying to commute from Brampton to Toronto for work and school, and I think this will have a great impact.”