TTCriders, a membership-based transit advocacy organization, released the following statement in advance of the Toronto Region Board of Trade Mayoral Debate:
“Transit riders want to know where John Tory stands on installing more bus lanes, increasing service levels, and lowering fares, but he did not respond to the transit issues survey TTCriders sent to all candidates.
“The ticket cost and daytime timing of the Board of Trade debate is prohibitive to many Toronto residents. Everyday transit users are unlikely to be in attendance to ask these five critical questions:
“1. Will you move quickly to implement 10 bus and streetcar priority corridors in the next term of Council?
“2. If the TTC faces continued budget shortfalls due to slow ridership recovery, will you oppose cuts to transit service, the deferral of capital projects, and increases to fares?
“3. If the TTC faces continued budget shortfalls due to slow ridership recovery, will you advocate to make up the revenue loss with City of Toronto revenue tools?
“4. Will you immediately fund the 3rd phase of the Fair Pass low income transit discount program in the 2023 municipal budget?
“5. Will you support bus-only lanes northbound on Kennedy and southbound on Midland to accommodate the 70 additional buses per hour that will travel on these routes during peak periods to replace the Scarborough RT service when it closes?
“TTC users can learn how their Mayoral and City Council candidates answered all 28 questions by visiting www.ttcriders.ca/2022.”