New Year's transit free in some Toronto suburbs
Last Updated: Friday, December 29, 2006 | 12:51 PM ET
CBC News
New Year's Eve revellers in some Toronto suburbs will get free transit rides to and from festivities, but those within the city itself will have to cough up the full fare.
Transit services in Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, York Region and Durham Region, as well as GO Transit, will not charge fares on that night in an effort to keep people ringing in the new year from driving while drunk.
A Toronto Transit Commission spokesman said the city can't afford to offer the service for free — it would lose about $2 million in fares.
In past years, the TTC has allowed free rides, but only when corporate sponsors footed the bill.
However, the TTC will try to help the revellers by running later than usual, with most bus and streetcar routes with late-evening service running until 3 a.m. and some subway trains until 2:30 a.m. Details can be found on their website.
Durham Region Transit said it was able to offer free service because of financial support from Ontario Power Generation.
Free service starts at 7 p.m. in Mississauga, York Region and on GO Transit, and at 7:30 p.m. in Brampton.
Riders in Hamilton can begin hopping on buses for free as early as 6 p.m., while those in Durham Region will have to wait until 8 p.m.
