TTC vs. OC Transpo… A Review

Good day ladies and gentlemen of the internet.

I was trying to come up with something to review today and a little bird had a great idea. I could review the TTC, Toronto’s Public Transit system.

Now, the only other public transit system that I have to compare the TTC to is Ottawa’s OC Transpo. It’s not a large sample size I know, but this is what I know, so it’s what I can write.

I take the TTC almost every day around the city of Toronto. From Parkdale to Scarborough and back again I’ve been known to ride the buses, street cars and subways. It’s a convenient way for me to get from one place to another since I don’t really want to budget for a car payment, insurance (which would be crazy high, but that’s another story), gas and maintenance.

When it comes to budgeting for the TTC things are a whole lot easier. You can either buy:
1. An unlimited, transferable monthly pass for $109
2. An unlimited, transferable weekly pass for $32.25
3. An unlimited, transferable day pass for $9
4. 5, single use tokens for $11.25
5. 10, single use tokens for $22.50
6. 1, single use fare for $2.75

It’s not all that bad really. There are choices that fit for one day visitors, people that have the car in the shop and still need to get to work, folks like me who need to get to work every day with out a car, and even those of us who aren’t good enough with the budgeting to have $109 available at the first of the month when rent and cell phone and cable are all due.

The only part of the TTC fare process that I’m not a huge fan of is the transfer part of things on single use trips with cash of tokens. The transfers are one way only as long as all routes connect. This means that a quick trip to the grocery store will cost $5.50 even if you’re only in the store for 15 or 20 minutes. In Ottawa with the OC Transpo you are able to use the same transfer for 3 hours no matter which direction you are travelling.

The fares are a lot cheaper in Ottawa as well. I hadn’t really noticed or remembered until just now when I looked at their website. A monthly pass for the bus in Ottawa will run you all of $84.75 with an express pass for going from Kanata to Ottawa on the quick(er) will cost $106. A single ride fare with the 3 hour transfer window in Ottawa will cost $3. A little more than the TTC single ride, but with the better transfer option.

I do like the street cars in Toronto, and I do love the subway in Toronto and I do love Toronto in general. So I’m leaning toward the TTC as far as my pick between the 2. However, the price point and transfer system for single use riders is much better in Ottawa. In a perfect world I could find a way to merge the 2 systems together and be super happy and praised by all. But I don’t see that happening and time soon.

In the end the nod does go to the TTC. Congratulations Red Rocket, you are the winner!

Author profile

Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.