TTC ridership declined this past fall, despite stricter return-to-office policies for workers

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green has an update on holiday schedules and free service on New Year’s Eve.

Despite hopes that 2025 would be the year the TTC saw a major comeback in light of stricter -in-office work policies, new data released by the TTC show that ridership was actually down in the last few months of the year compared to the previous year.

“Despite employer policy changes in Fall 2025 requiring more in-office workdays, no significant ridership increase has been observed,” TTC staff wrote in a budget report set to go before the TTC Board early in the new year.

The report found that in fact, projected TTC ridership for the fall not only failed to meet expectations, but dropped below ridership levels for the same time last year.

More stringent in-office policies came into effect in the fall for many government and bank workers, as well as employees at other large businesses. The policies, many of them requiring workers to be in-office 4-5 days per week, were expected to bolster local economies and to help bring ridership levels back to pre-pandemic numbers.

It’s not fully clear why the more stringent office policies have not helped boost TTC ridership.

Staff also point to a sharp decline in international student numbers as another factor affecting ridership.

“We saw about a 50 per cent drop in monthly pass sales from international students once that program changed and international students were no longer part of the equation,” TTC Spokesperson Stuart Green told CP24 in an interview.

Green said while this year’s ridership numbers did not meet expectations, the service is hopeful ridership will improve next year.

“We had anticipated a slightly higher uptick in return to office over the course of this past year. We expect to see that uptick in 2026 a bit,” he said. “We’ve also got the World Cup in 2026 so those should help us get our us get our numbers up from where they were this year.”

The TTC’s projected full-year ridership for 2025 is 414 million rides, with 426.4 million rides anticipated next year.

Customer satisfaction low

Efforts to reinvigorate the lagging transit system have met with mixed results. The TTC has frozen fares and is introducing a fare cap for transit riders starting in the spring.

But the system has continued to be plagued by service problems and safety concerns.

A recent report from TTC CEO Mandeep Lali revealed overall customer satisfaction with the TTC stands at about 66 per cent, down five per cent from the same time last year. Just 56 per cent of riders feel satisfied with their level of personal safety on the system, down from 59 per cent at the same time last year.

Customers cite cleanliness, wait times and reliability as reasons for dissatisfaction.

The TTC also took flack for poor communication and not being better prepared to handle a late-running Game 7 of the World Series in November.

Looking forward, the TTC says it expects the opening of the Finch West LRT and the expected opening of the Eglinton LRT early in the new year to add 3.1 million rides in 2026, bringing in an additional $7.8 million in revenue.

Green said the transit system is working to improve service, hoping to win back more riders in 2026.

“It’s going to be about getting riders back and re-instilling that confidence, getting people back on public transit, making sure that they know that the system is safe and clean and reliable,” he said.

“Reliability is going to be a big challenge for us, and it’s going to it’s a big opportunity for us to to prove that we’re a good way to get around the city, we’re a safe way to get around the city, and that’s our commitment to our customers and the people of Toronto.”

He pointed out the TTC will be will be offering free rides on New Year’s Eve, from 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 8 a.m. on Jan. 1.