The TTC is finalizing a new action plan to address fare evasion, which includes eventually discontinuing cash fares completely at all stations.

At its meeting Tuesday, the commission's board will hear follow-up reports on a handful of measures it endorsed back in July toward the end goal of greater fare compliance, such as shuttering no-tap "crash gates" (except when specifically opened by a collector) and "phasing out cash fares at stations and legacy fare media on all modes."

As the proposal explains, fewer than 90 customers per day currently pay with cash at each station, on average, with a 74 per cent/26 per cent split between adult fares and youth or senior fares.

These fares are set to be harmonized, after which those looking to pay by this method will instead be directed to puchase a single-ride ticket at a Presto vending machine.

This will help "streamline the process and reduce congestion at the gates," along with cracking down on fare cheats, and encouraging widespread adoption of Presto and contactless payment methods in line with the modernization of the overall system.

"Eliminating the need to use cash fares at station fareboxes [will] thereby eliminate the use of the crash gate," reads the doc going to the TTC Board today.

"Several GTHA transit agencies, including York Region Transit, Brampton Transit and Hamilton Street Railway, have harmonized cash fares with concessions only available through PRESTO... The TTC will review cash harmonization strategies with stakeholders before proceeding. This will further address the TTC’s enforcement and compliance issues in relation to cash fares."

While the harmonization of the fare type will mean an increase in the student cash fare by 40 per cent and the senior cash fare by 46 per cent, the TTC writes that "consideration was given to updating the fare vending machines to dispense single ride youth and senior Presto Tickets, but this change would increase the likelihood of concession fraud, so the TTC decided against implementation."

It adds that people paying cash fares make up only four per cent of all rides, and that "establishing a single harmonized cash fare for all customers would limit any confusion about cash fares, reduce discrepancies and could incentivize the use of Presto."

Staff are also looking into better strategies for managing cash fares on buses.