Updated: Sat Apr. 01 2006 4:38:55 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

It may have looked like an April Fool's prank, but Toronto commuters were asked to pay more to ride subways, streetcars and busses Saturday morning as fare hikes came into effect.

The Toronto Transit Commission fare hike was part of the city's 2006 budget which was passed by city council on Thursday.

Cash fares are up 25 cents to $2.75. The price for tokens and tickets is up a dime to $2.10 per trip. A Metropass now costs $99.75, up one dollar. Old tickets and tokens will be accepted by the TTC until the end of April.

It is the second time in just over a year that transit riders have been asked to pay more.

The decision to hike fares was made in February as the transit commission tackled a budgetary shortfall. The TTC had asked for an operating subsidy of $263 million, but the city's budget committee capped it at $246.3 million.

To save money the TTC also planned to cut some jobs throughout the system

The TTC budget cuts were part the result of Toronto city council's struggle to make-up a $523 million shortfall in its $7 billion budget.

To help cut its deficit the city also announced residential and business property tax hikes.