To address disappointing ridership numbers and a big budget shortfall, the TTC wants to scrap planned service improvements and crack down on students who skip out on paying their fare.

In a recently released ridership report, the TTC says it is on track to see 13 million fewer rides this year than what was previously expected.

The discrepancy, the transit agency says, will create a $25 million passenger revenue shortfall.

To offset this budget gap, the TTC previously identified 10 million in non-labour expense reductions and in this month’s report, the transit agency says it will save $1.5 million by cancelling planned service additions that were supposed to be introduced this fall.

The plateau in ridership is also expected to have an impact on service improvements in 2017.

As it stands, the TTC says current service levels are sufficient to support projected ridership next year and as a result, the transit agency will be cutting improvements in 2017, resulting in a savings of $6 million in the 2017 operating budget.

In an effort to boost ridership numbers, the TTC says it will be cracking down on students who don’t pay their fare.

“As a by-product of the children-ride-free policy, some frontline employees have observed that at stops located near high-schools, students have been boarding vehicles without paying a fare. Some students seem to be claiming to be aged 12 or under and should be riding for free,” the TTC’s report reads.

“In the fall 2016, to coincide with the start of the school year, a letter will be sent to schools and 2016 Ridership Update 12 parents/guardians to remind them that students between 13-19 years of age must pay a valid fare. This would be followed by targeted inspections and possible ticketing.”

An increase in the number of fare inspectors could also help curb fare evasion.

The TTC says by mid-2016, 18 more fare inspectors will be hired, bringing the total number of fare inspectors up to 69.

“These additional resources will further discourage fare evasion throughout the entire streetcar network,” the TTC’s report continues.

Transit advocacy group TTCRiders released a statement Thursday morning, slamming the TTC for backing out on previously planned service improvements.

“Cutting funding and service levels in response to declining ridership starts a race to the bottom because less people will ride if service get worse,” TTCriders spokesperson Jessica Bell said in a written news release.