Updated: Fri Nov. 13 2009 4:34:14 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

The Toronto Transit Commission predicts that token hoarding in advance of a proposed fare hike will cost the system about $1 million in lost revenue.

Spokesman Brad Ross told ctvtoronto.ca on Friday that the TTC has been forced to establish a five-token limit in an attempt to stop riders from stockpiling the tokens.

When asked about the $1 million figure, Ross said that sales of tokens have increased by about 20 per cent in recent days.

"Because our ridership remains steady, (we know) the tokens won't come back into the system until 2010," he said.

The TTC proposed a cash fare increase from $2.75 to $3 in January. The rates for metropasses would jump from $109 to $126. Tokens would cost $2.50 instead of $2.25 when five or more are purchased.

"People are buying more tokens now ... in anticipation of a fare increase," said Ross.

He added that the system is struggling to keep collector booths well-stocked, despite a stockpile of about 8 million spare tokens that can be injected into the system. Some booths are requiring several token deliveries per day.

Meanwhile, some TTC riders boycotted the system because they were angry over the proposed fare hikes. Still, it appeared that over the course of the day, the boycott had little effect on the system.

While about 6,700 people signed up on a Facebook event page, the eastbound subway and Scarborough RT appeared busier than usual for much of Friday.

At 7:20 a.m. almost all the seats had been taken, whereas normally there are only 4 or 5 people per car. By 3 p.m., many cars were packed and had standing room only.

A woman angry with the proposed fare increase organized the boycott for Friday through Twitter and Facebook.

Nicole Winchester encouraged people to walk, bike, carpool or take taxis to work to make their point.

Her website encourages those who cannot find an alternative to write to their MPs to demand more funding for the TTC.

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