The TTC is planning to hike parking fees at its lots, so you’ll want to pay attention if you drive to the subway.
After dealing with a massive spike in land lease costs, Toronto’s transit agency is rethinking how much space and money it devotes to commuter parking lots.
A report going to the transit board next week recommends increasing the parking rates, which could generate an extra $1 million for the transit agency in 2026.
Right now, the TTC operates 23 commuter parking lots. After digging into usage stats, maintenance costs and lease fees, the transit agency found that only ten lots are actually well used, and just 2% of subway riders are even parking at TTC lots in the first place.
As a result, the report finds, most of these lots are running at a loss, and fare-paying riders are subsidizing these underused lots.
The TTC is now rolling out a new strategy, starting with hiking parking fees. If adopted, daily rates at high-demand lots will jump to $8, with a new $4 afternoon rate option, starting on July 1, 2025.
Lots that aren’t performing as well will also see smaller increases — unless they’re totally underused, in which case rates will stay the same to encourage usage to even out across the network.
But pricing is just one part of the shift. The TTC is also looking to shrink some of its leased lots, like those at Finch West and Pioneer Village, saving an estimated $1.5 million annually.
And in collaboration with CreateTO, the City of Toronto’s real estate agency, they’re exploring whether some lots could be transformed into housing or other community-focused developments.
Some lots are tied up in awkward locations — like those on Hydro One land or under overpasses — and may be harder to repurpose, but everything’s on the table.
The report also proposes a new policy ditching the rule that lost parking spots have to be replaced one for one, making way for more flexible redevelopment.
Overall, this revamp isn’t just about cutting losses — it’s about boosting non-fare revenue, modernizing transit infrastructure and aligning with the City’s housing and sustainability goals.
TTC proposed parking changes in full
- Finch Station East Side — increasing from $5 to $6.25
- Finch Station West Side — increasing from $5 to $8
- Kipling North — increasing from $7 to $8
- Kipling South — increasing from $6 to $8
- Islington Lomond — staying at $8
- Islington Fieldway — increasing from $5 to $6.25
- Finch West — staying at $7
- Pioneer Village — staying at $7
- Highway 407 — increasing from $7 to $8
- Wilson Transit Road — increasing from $5 to $8
- Keele — increasing from $5 to $8
- Leslie — increasing from $7 to $8
- Sheppard West — staying at $5
- Islington Main — increasing from $6 to $8
- Warden North — staying at $4
- Warden South — closed for construction
- Victoria Park — planned CreateTO redevelopment. The parking lot will be permanently closed as of June 3.
- Lawrence East — staying at $3
- Ellesmere — staying at $3
- Kennedy South — being repurposed for a temporary bus terminal and will be evaluated for future redevelopment.
- Don Mills — staying at $7
- Yorkdale — staying at $7
- Eglinton West — reopening in 2025 following Line 5 construction. It’s a planned CreateTO redevelopment.
Love this? Check out our Narcity noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of Narcity’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
