Fare Payment Policy

Purpose

The Fare Payment Policy defines the guidelines and rules surrounding fare payment. The Policy also defines when a customer’s record of no-fare may trigger certain policy actions.

Scope

The policy applies to all persons travelling on Wheel-Trans services.

Legislative Requirements

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005);

Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, Ont. Reg. 191/11; and

TTC By-Law No. 1

Definitions

Companion is defined as a person who is accompanying a Wheel-Trans customer during their trip and is not the customer’s support person. Another Wheel-Trans customer is not considered a companion

Cross-boundary Travel refers to trips that require travelling outside the municipal boundaries of the City of Toronto

Fare is defined as the amount to be paid for travel on the transit system as determined by the Commissioners of the TTC. For a current list of the types of payments accepted by the TTC, please visit Fares and Passes.

Fare evasion:

• Illegal entry into a subway station through a bus bay
• Entering a fare gate without paying (including pushing a gate, hopping over a gate, walking behind someone – also known as tailgating, or holding a gate open)
• Boarding a bus, streetcar, Wheel-Trans vehicle or contracted sedan taxi without paying a fare.

No-Fare Trip occurs when a customer boards a Wheel-Trans vehicle and does not pay a fare for a scheduled trip. This non payment of fare is recorded in the scheduling system under the customer’s registration number.

Presto Card Reader Out of Service

If the Presto Card reader is out of service when a customer taps their Presto Card, or the operator instructs the customer not to tap because the Presto card reader is out of service, this will not be counted as a No-Fare Trip or Fare evasion.

Support Person is an individual that assists a person with a disability with communication, mobility, personal care/medical needs or with access to goods, services or facilities.

Policy

Wheel-Trans fares are mandated by the TTC Fare Policy and are therefore subject to change. For the most current information on fare and fare payment please visit: Fares and Passes

For the most current PRESTO information please visit: Presto

All persons travelling on Wheel-Trans must pay a regular TTC fare each time they take a trip with Wheel-Trans. No person shall travel or attempt to travel on Wheel-Trans or enter a fare paid area, or attempt to enter a fare paid area without paying the appropriate fare.

Customers may contact customer service to discuss the dates that the non-payment of fares took place.

With the exception of trips scheduled in sedans, multiple trips scheduled within a two-hour window require only one fare regardless of the direction of travel if paid using PRESTO, consistent with TTC 2-hour Transfer Policy.

Persons paying senior fares (i.e. 65 years of age or older) need to carry a valid identification.

In order to use the student fare, students, between 13 and 15 years of age, do not require identification. Students, between 16 and 19 years of age, need to carry valid identification.

A support person travelling with a person with a disability is not required to pay a fare after the customer presents a valid Support Person Assistance Card. Except for one (1) support person, all other companions travelling with the Wheel-Trans customer are required to pay a regular TTC fare.

When transferring to and from a neighbouring region on a cross-boundary trip, an additional fare is required on the adjoining service plus the Wheel-Trans fare. A support person travelling with a person with a disability is not required to pay a fare after presenting a valid Support Person Assistance Card.

TTC Fare Policy takes precedent over Wheel-Trans Fare Payment Policy at all times.

All policies are subject to change at the discretion of the TTC.

Consequences of Non-Payment of Fares/Fare Evasion

Not paying a fare (fare evasion) could result in a TTC Transit Fare Inspector issuing a customer a fine up to $425. 

Each time a Wheel-Trans customer profile exceeds five (5) no-fare trips, a  “non-payment of fares” letter will be sent to their attention.;

1. The initial letter will advise customers to be mindful of the TTC Fare policy, as well, it will inform them of the fact that they failed to pay a fare on five (5) occasions.
2. The 2nd occurrence of non-payment of fares will result in a seven (7) day service suspension.
3. The 3rd occurrence of non-payment of fares will result in a fourteen (14) day service suspension.
4. The 4th occurrence of non-payment of fares will result in a thirty (30) day service suspension.
5. The 5th and subsequent occurences of non-payment of fares will result in a sixty (60) day service suspension.
   *If a Presto card reader is out of service, this will not be counted as a no-fare.

Customers can travel to the TTC Customer Service Centre which is located on the 1st Floor at 1900 Yonge street (Davisville subway), to pay for any outstanding fares. The following forms of payments are accepted:  Cash, Interac, American Express, MasterCard and Visa. The customer will be issued a receipt, which they will need to provide a copy of in order for Customer Service to remove the service suspension.  The office is open, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except statutory holidays. Extended hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday and the first and the last business day of each month.

Exceptions

Exceptions will be treated by Wheel-Trans on a case-by-case basis.