Where do York South-Weston councillor candidates stand on transit?

Will candidates commit to making life affordable for transit riders?

Torontonians are experiencing an affordability crisis due to international situations out of their control, and the City must do everything it can to make life more affordable. Riders tell us again and again that the costs of taking transit pile up, leaving them with expensive decisions on whether taking transit is financially sustainable. 

Will candidates lower wait times, improve reliability, and speed up transit?

Improving surface transit is absolutely essential to growing ridership on the TTC. Surface modes account for more than half of all TTC passenger boarding, and given the tight integration between surface and rapid transit, the success of the entire system hinges on buses and streetcars. Furthermore, the bus network serves employment lands, neighbourhood improvement areas and other places rapid transit currently does not reach. 

In spite of this, surface transit gets the short end of the stick when it comes to road priority. Buses and streetcars are routinely stuck in traffic at all times of the day; making existing riders late and not incentivizing current drivers to switch to transit. The expansion of RapidTO bus and streetcar lines is urgently needed across the city. The few sections of RapidTO that exist right now have dramatically improved surface transit performance. For example, reliability on the 116 Morningside bus improved 19% after red lanes were introduced on Eglinton East, Kingston Road and Morningside.

The streetcar system is the backbone of the downtown transportation network relied upon by hundreds of thousands of riders a day. However, transit priority measures have been slow to implement on the network, making our streetcar network among the slowest in the world.

In order to grow ridership and maximize speed, there needs to be a network-wide streetcar reform. This would include measures such as street parking removal, left turn bans, active signal priority, dedicated lanes, modernized switches, truly level and accessible boarding, improved shelters and seating, and expanding transit malls similar to the King Street zone. These measures are proven in many cities around the world, as well systems close to home like Kitchener-Waterloo’s ION, to be effective in making streetcars faster and more reliable.

Will candidates commit to a transit system accessible to all?

A truly accessible transit system means more than being able to board a bus, streetcar or subway. Riders need to be able to navigate the system, understand where they are going, safely get to and from their stop, and rely on door-to-door service when conventional transit cannot meet their needs.

For too many riders, these barriers can make taking transit more difficult, stressful, or sometimes impossible. Confusing or inconsistent signage can make the TTC harder to navigate, particularly for riders with disabilities, seniors, tourists and people who are unfamiliar with the system. For Wheel-Trans users, reliable door-to-door service can be essential to getting to work, medical appointments, school and other parts of daily life.

Over the next four years, Toronto needs to make the TTC easier to use for everyone. That means fully implementing the TTC's wayfinding strategy, protecting and expanding door-to-door Wheel-Trans service for those who need it, and ensuring accessibility is prioritized during snowstorms and other disruptions. Here's what we asked candidates:

Will candidates commit to a safe TTC for all?

While violence and offence rates on the TTC have declined, and fewer complaints are being made, public perception of safety has not caught up with these trends. We often hear from riders that they continue to view the TTC as an unsafe environment, and it's often mentioned as a real barrier to taking transit more often.

That said, TTCriders believe that improving safety must include non-enforcement as the default response. We hear again and again that the increased presence of police, fare inspectors, and special constables do not make many people feel safer, while raising concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement and who is disproportionately targeted or overrepresented in these interactions, particularly Black, Indigenous, unhoused, and other vulnerable riders.

In contrast, riders have identified community ambassadors, Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), and greater visibility of TTC staff as actions that make them feel safer. For many riders, however, safety is also about having the infrastructure and conditions to protect themselves in the first place: better lighting in dark and isolated areas, more frequent service, safer places to wait and take shelter, and a TTC environment designed around care, accessibility, and dignity. The TTC needs to be safe for everyone, as everyone has a right to use it, and everyone deserves to be approached with compassion, prevention, and resources. Here's what we asked candidates:

"I would support capital funding for more enforcement officers to deal with fare evasion."

- Frances Nunziata

"I ride the TTC every day and have been a member of TTCriders for years. Transit issues are important across the city, but in York South-Weston we are a transit hub. Not only do we have some of the city’s busiest bus routes, we also have the Eglinton LRT, the UP Express and GO stations, and access to several 400 series highways along major road corridors. As the next City Councillor, I will fight to make sure that TTC users in our ward and across the city can rely on a safe, reliable and accessible transit system that is 100% public and affordable to everyone."

- Chiara Padovani

"In addition to the major safety issues already addressed in earlier questions, there are several critical areas of TTC safety that must be part of any comprehensive approach. Protecting operators is essential, as assaults and threats against frontline staff have increased and directly affect service reliability. I also recognize that many stations have aging infrastructure that creates safety risks, including narrow platforms, outdated ventilation, and limited emergency egress routes, all of which require modernization.

Emergency communication systems across the network need consistent upgrades so riders and staff can rely on clear alerts, responsive help buttons, and effective coordination during incidents. Preventing track‑level intrusions remains a major concern, and stronger surveillance, platform design improvements, and rapid‑response protocols are necessary to reduce these risks.

Nighttime safety requires particular attention, with improved lighting, visibility, and staff presence during late‑night service. Congestion at fare gates, escalators, and concourses—especially at major interchange stations—creates hazards that must be addressed through better crowd management and infrastructure improvements. Finally, accessibility‑related safety issues, such as elevator reliability, tactile wayfinding, and safe boarding conditions, are essential for ensuring that riders with disabilities can travel safely and independently.

These additional priorities complement the broader safety commitments you have already outlined and reflect the full range of risks that must be addressed to create a safer, more resilient TTC for riders and workers.

I fully support strengthening safety and wellbeing across the TTC, and I am committed to advancing every initiative outlined in this platform. My goal is to champion a transit system that is safer, more compassionate, and more accessible for riders and workers alike. At the same time, I must be responsible and transparent about the limits of what any councillor can guarantee. Some proposals require major capital funding, specialized staffing, engineering feasibility, intergovernmental partnership, and coordinated operations across multiple divisions. For these reasons, I could not make unconditional commitments where the City does not have full control over delivery, timelines, or resources.

Where I expressed support, it is grounded in evidence, operational realities, and the need for sustainable implementation. Every “yes” I provided is a conditional yes—reflecting my commitment to move these priorities forward while acknowledging the practical requirements needed to achieve them. 

Where I selected “no” on certain questions, it was not because I oppose the goals or lack commitment to improving safety and wellbeing on the TTC. My “no” reflects a responsible caution: I cannot make promises about operational outcomes, capital projects, or service expansions that depend on factors outside the City’s direct control. Many of these initiatives require major funding, engineering feasibility, staffing capacity, and coordination with the TTC, City divisions, contractors, and other orders of government. It would not be honest or accountable for me to guarantee results that I do not have the authority to deliver on my own.

My position is one of support paired with realism. I back the intent behind these proposals, and I will advocate for them, champion them, and work to move them forward. But I will not commit to outcomes that rely on resources, approvals, or operational decisions that I cannot personally direct. This approach ensures that I remain transparent, responsible, and grounded in good governance while still supporting the broader goals of a safer, more accessible, and more compassionate transit system."

- Sileen Phillips