Toronto will not hike cost of transit during World Cup as other host cities announce big fare increases to venues

Officials with the province and city have confirmed that Toronto will not be following suit with some other World Cup host cities who are charging substantial sums to and from soccer venues during the tournament this summer.

At an unrelated news conference on Thursday morning, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Metrolinx would “absolutely not” be increasing fares on GO Transit during World Cup games.

“In fact (Metrolinx CEO) Michael (Lindsay) and his team have been working extensively with how we can increase service and make that journey more seamless, integrating schedules and working with other transit agencies across the province as well,” Sarkaria said.

“We are not increasing fares. In fact, we are increasing services to accommodate for the number of individuals that will be in the city and also make it that much easier to use public transit whether it is UP Express or our Lakeshore lines as well.”

Sarkaria’s comments come as some host cities, including New Jersey and Boston, announce massive fare hikes amid rising transportation costs during the World Cup.

According to The Athletic, New Jersey is planning to introduce special event pricing from New York’s Penn Station for rides to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The trip, which would ordinarily cost a little under US$13, would rise to $100 on game days.

In a statement on social media, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherill said FIFA is providing $0 for transportation.

“And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion. I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come,” she said.

“FIFA should pay for the rides. But if they don’t – I’m not going to let New Jersey get taken for one.”

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says train fares to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, will increase to US$80 on game days.

“Transit needs to remain affordable,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said Thursday.

“There has been no fare increase three years running under my watch and yes a lot of integration between GO and TTC because we want to make it simple as the world comes to the city for World Cup.”

After swift backlash to a proposal to charge $10 per ticket for the FIFA Fan Festival, an event that the city previously said would be free, Chow introduced a motion at executive committee Wednesday asking staff to go back to the drawing board to find a way to make sure the event could remain free to the public.

“By and large, you shouldn’t have to pay. And that’s because you’re already paying for your property taxes,” Chow said when asked about the about-face.