To: Mr. Adam Giambrone, Chair of the TTC
Mr. Joe Mihevc, Vice-Chair of the TTC
Members of the TTC Commission Board

In our society, there are few causes more noble than that of serving the people.

In our beloved City of Toronto, there are few organizations that serve more people than the Toronto Transit Commission.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is one of the busiest transit systems in North America, serving more than 1.5 million riders daily. That amounts to nearly half a billion every year.

The TTC charges $2.75 for regular adult fare, but fortunately, it has a reduced price for the benefit of students aged 13-19, who pay only $1.85. No doubt, this attracts a huge number of secondary school riders. In 2002, the number of riders paying student fare was 10 700 per day.

However, the TTC also has a policy requiring all who pay student fare to carry a TTC Student Discount Card. If they do not have one, students are required to pay adult fare. These Discount Cards are available for $5, and must be renewed annually. It does not apply to Seniors, who can pay the same reduced fare with a valid Photo ID.

While we are grateful for the student discount from the TTC, the policy of the Discount Card is, in our view, preposterous. There are many other forms of identification that the TTC could accept as proof of age, including but not limited to: School Photo ID, DriverЇs License, and Health Card. Also, by only requiring students to buy a Discount Card, the TTC is cultivating a culture of cynicism, subtly suggesting mistrust in our age group. In addition, the TTC is a crown corporation. Its foremost goal should not be to make profits, but instead, serve the people of Toronto to the best of its ability.

Therefore, we, the undersigned riders of the TTC, propose the following OPTIONS for the Commission to consider:

1. Eliminate the TTC Student Discount Card and accept a valid, updated School Photo ID as proof-of-age.

This option has already been adopted by most transit commissions in the Greater Toronto Area: York Region, Durham Region, Mississauga, Oakville, and on GoTransit. Furthermore, many, many major North American cities have a similar policy, including, but not limited to: Windsor, North Bay, Halifax, Dallas, Denver, Calgary, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

2. Issue the TTC Student Discount Card, for free, for all students.

This option would show that the TTC is serious about attracting student riders. Again, this type of policy exists in many North American cities, including, but not limited to: Hamilton, Houston, and Vancouver.

We believe that a slight change, such as in one of the two options above, will make the entire system work more conveniently and efficiently. Not only is the card unnecessary, it is tarnishing the image of the TTC as a money-grabbing corporation. Students are in near unanimous agreement that the process of getting this card is simply a waste of time and it is clear that the cons of this policy greatly outweigh the pros.

The change we are seeking will not create unforeseeable consequences. Therefore, we implore the TTC to do what would serve the people right.

There is no cause more noble than that!