Union-Pearson Express is too expensive: poll

CTV Toronto: UP Express too expensive? Nearly 70 per cent of respondents say the one-way fare on the Union Pearson Express train is too expensive, Colin D'Mello reports.

Nearly 70 per cent of respondents say the Union-Pearson Express train fare is too expensive, according to results of a new poll.

According to results of the poll conducted by Forum Research and released Wednesday morning, 68 per cent of respondents said the $27.50 one-way fare was too high. One-quarter of those surveyed said the cost of the Union-Pearson Express (UPX) price was "about right."

Forum Research President Lorne Bozinoff said the data shows a "sharp increase" in those who find the train too expensive. In April, 2015, 58 per cent said they thought the cost was too high.

Those surveyed were asked what they felt was an appropriate price, ranging from "less than $5" to "$27, the same as it is now." The average price suggested by voters was approximately $12.

"It appears Torontonians use and accept the necessity of an airport link, it's just that they think it should cost half as much," Bozinoff said in a statement.

Metrolinx representative Anne Marie Aikins said the poll didn't mention the fact that those using a PRESTO card or travelling from certain subway stations pay lower rates.

"There is no reason why anyone living in Toronto should pay the full price," Aikins said in a statement.

Customers using a PRESTO card pay $19 for a one-way fare, or $11-$16 if travelling with a PRESTO card from Bloor or Weston Stations. Aikins also said seniors, students, children, families and groups pay lower prices.

In addition to the pricing, the Forum poll found residents were less likely to use the train than they initially thought when it launched 6 weeks ago.

Bozinoff said 9 per cent of those polled said they'd actually used the train, while 16 per cent said they were likely to use it in the future.

"This is a decline from the last time we measured this, before service started," Bozinoff said in a statement.

"In total, fewer than 4-in-10 are likely to use the UPX (39%), and this is down from close to half in the spring."

The statement said that 70 per cent felt the UPX should be incorporated into the TTC, with a lower fare and more stops included.

The data comes from an interactive voice response telephone survey conducted Aug. 1 and 2. Forum said 892 Toronto voters were randomly selected.

Based on the sample size, the data is considered accurate to +/- 3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.