I think that Metrolinx may be headed down a perilous course if it proposes any kind of premium for subways or creates a 'zone' system within the City.
Its not merely a matter of whether its good policy; though to be sure that does matter.
Its also a matter of whats politically feasible. That shouldn't encourage cowardice, but inviting backlash and backpedaling isn't sensible either.
Besides which, any kind of subway premium means tap in/out of buses and on again to enter the subway or the very least tap out for stations, but that's not a given either.
(example, I could exit St. Clair West, having boarded at St. Clair, by taking the streetcar alone; or by subwaying around the loop)
Saving those costs; along with proposing something that will pass muster w/the largest number of people is crucial.
For me, that means the following:
1) Harmonize the prices of fares within each system, ie. An adult fare in Mississauga is the same as Whitby or Toronto. This doesn't necessarily cut prices
but it does make fares predictable which improves the ability of people to easily trip plan and calculate in their head what stuff costs.
2)For the non-GO systems, move to each system being a zone; that way the fares stay the same for riders who continue to travel within the system they were already using.
So Toronto would be Zone 1; Mississauga, Brampton, YRT urban, and DRT urban would all be Zone 2, with the option of ex-urban systems being Zone 3.
3)With zones in place, apply a formula that provides for less than full price when you cross a zone; but be prepared to put new subsidy in to achieve this initially.
This may be mean a lesser price cut than some would hope for, but that can always be revisited once you have the new system in place.
I would suggest a fairly straight forward reduce by 1/2. So if You start in Zone 1 and pay $3 to ride, and you cross into Zone 2, you pay an additional $1.50.
4) The alternative to the above would a straight 2-hour fare, by any non-GO train means, w/o zones. That might, however, result in the need for greater subsidy, in the absence of a steep fare hike.
5) Lastly, introduced a standard discount that would also apply in Toronto, for GO users. Realistically, this number can't be a cheap as it is now in the 905. So I think
something like, full GO fare (but with some short-haul GO trips reduced in price); and 1/2 fare for any other system, once you've paid for GO.
I'm not stuck on the numbers.
Rather I think its important that whatever is brought forward doesn't either meet with a political firestorm; nor that it cause substantial ridership erosion due to an inordinate hike for TTC riders.
What concerns me, in the light of UPX is that Metrolinx doesn't seem to have the best political/consumer instincts.