Tokens and passes to use Toronto's public transit system will cost more starting Jan. 1, while cash fares will remain at $3 a ride.

Toronto Transit Commission members voted for the fare increase Wednesday evening at City Hall.

The cost of a monthly pass will rise five dollars, to $126, while tokens will rise 10 cents, to $2.60.

The TTC said the increase is expected to bring in aproximately $50 million a year, if the transit authority maintains its ridership levels.

More than 70 riders signed up to give deputations against the fare hike and proposed service cuts on Wednesday.

Some routes temporarily saved

TTC chair Karen Stintz said earlier Wednesday that lower than predicted fuel costs could save some of the city bus routes slated for cuts — but only for a month or two.

Stintz said low diesel costs have meant $5 million in savings that will be reallocated.

"What that means is that we'll be able to keep service as it is for the month of January, and then starting [in] February we're going to look to keep service on our busiest routes," she said. "So we won't be able to maintain all the service under the current ridership growth standards, but what we're trying to do is keep the service during the peak times to be comparable to what it is now."

Beyond January and February, Stintz said new buses are needed to maintain service.

"We're going to ask council to increase our capital budget by $45 million so that we can buy the buses that we need," she said.

Toronto city council will make that decision in January.