Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence

How have your Eglinton-Lawrence City Council candidates promised to improve transit? 

TTCriders sent all City Council candidates a 28-question survey about transit issues. Scroll down to read their responses and pledge to vote on October 24! Your City Councillor makes decisions about how much the TTC costs, how often the bus comes, and more. Add your name to show candidates that transit riders need change - and that you will vote.

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NOTE: There are 5 candidates running in Eglinton-Lawrence. If your candidate does not appear below, it is because they haven't answered the survey yet.

ISSUE: Protecting TTC Service and Fixing the Transit Funding Model

Because the TTC has depended on rider fares for over 60% of its operating budget, lower ridership during the pandemic created significant budget shortfalls. TTC ridership is not projected to recover to 100% in the immediate future. As of mid-August, 2022, TTC bus ridership was at 60% and overall ridership was at 57% of pre-pandemic levels. The provincial and federal governments provided transit operating funding during the pandemic through the Safe Restart Agreements, but this funding will soon expire.

1. 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?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"I will recreate a model built on serving the communities they serve."

Yes

2. 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?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"Need to reduce overhead ancillary costs and create more revenue."

Yes

3. Will you be a strong champion for Toronto to the provincial and federal governments for their continued investment in TTC operating funding to protect transit service levels?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

4. City of Toronto reports reveal that millions of TTC trips annually have shifted onto Uber and Lyft over the past several years. Will you support policies that help move people back onto public transit from private vehicles (personal or ride-hailing)?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"I will support policies for TTC to be more dependable."

"Yes but not by putting restrictions on private rides. We need to make public transit more appealing (reliable and safe)."

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ISSUE: Prioritizing Transit on Our Streets

Transit improvements don’t need to cost billions of dollars and take decades to build. Measures like traffic signal priority and bus lanes are a cost-effective way to improve reliability and speed. Toronto’s King Street transitway increased all-day weekday ridership by 17% and RapidTO bus lanes on Eglinton East, Kingston, and Morningside increased reliability by 12%. Toronto City Council approved a Surface Transit Network Plan in 2020 (now known as RapidTO) to implement 20 transit priority corridors by 2030, but the bus lane planned for Jane Street in Fall 2021 has not yet been installed.

The TransformTO technical report recommends a bold plan to convert one lane of traffic to exclusive bus lanes on all arterials. The 2020 Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild report recommended that the needs of essential workers must be considered in recovery efforts, noting: “the City can immediately contribute through such measures as increasing and accelerating installation of priority bus lanes thereby improving reliability and reducing commuting time.” 

5. Will you move quickly to implement 10 bus and streetcar priority corridors in the next term of Council as per the RapidTO plan?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"TTC needs to run more efficiently."

Yes

6. Will you support other priority measures that will improve TTC service and make RapidTO routes more effective, like queue jump lanes for buses and all-door boarding?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

7. Will you support traffic signal priority for buses, streetcars, and rapid transit projects like the Finch West LRT and Eglinton Crosstown LRT?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"When they tore up Bathurst Street they should have fixed bus lanes."

Yes

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ISSUE: Doubling TTC Service to Increase Ridership

Pre-pandemic, office workers made up 26% of TTC ridership. Today, most TTC users are women, shift workers, and people earning lower incomes, and off-peak periods have seen higher ridership recovery than rush-hour periods. During off-peak times, TTC users make longer bus trips to destinations spread out across the city and women often trip-chain, making multiple stops during their trip. The TransformTO technical report endorses increasing service frequency on all transit routes: bus by 70%, streetcar by 50%, subway off-peak service increased to every 3 mins.

The Blue Night Network, which last saw major upgrades in 2015, is meant to provide transit service between 2am and 5am accessible within a 15-minute walk of 99% of Toronto residents.  Given that riders reported crowding on nighttime routes during the pandemic, that many current riders are shift workers, and that there are some gaps in the nighttime service map (e.g. no North-South service West of Islington, no service on Markham), more frequent night service with broader coverage could increase ridership and support a fair recovery. The TTC does not produce regular public reports about gaps and bunching along individual bus and streetcar routes, which makes it difficult to evaluate whether they are meeting service standards of the Blue Night Network and the 10-minutes-or-better network.

8. Will you expand off-peak and nighttime service to better serve shift workers, women, and low-income riders who depend on transit most? 

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"Work with businesses to have higher density of workers travelling at same time."

Yes

9. Will you expand the 10-minutes-or-better network to more routes to be within walking distance of every person who lives in Toronto?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"Look at areas underserved."

Yes

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ISSUE: Accessible Transit

Public transit is a lifeline and must be accessible to all. The TTC’s plan to reduce the Wheel-Trans budget by restricting some users’ ability to book door-to-door Wheel-Trans trips will result in isolation and less access for seniors and people with disabilities. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (2021) and the Grant Faulkner Inquest (2018) have raised accessibility concerns about the transition to PRESTO.

10. Will you champion more funding from the provincial government to expand Wheel-Trans service and protect door-to-door Wheel-Trans service for those who need it?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

11. Will you support funding for platform edge doors in subway stations in the next Council term?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam


No

Yes

12. As tokens are replaced by PRESTO single-fare tickets and cards, will you be a champion to Metrolinx and the provincial government to ensure continued access to transit for individuals marginalized by poverty, and drop-in agencies continue to have access?

This includes ensuring access to bulk ordering for drop-ins and community organizations that distribute TTC tickets, expanding locations to buy and reload PRESTO beyond Shoppers Drug Marts (the 3rd party distribution network).

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"I will stop people in poverty from getting ticketing and criminalized."

Yes

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ISSUE: Affordable Transit

The TTC’s own modelling shows that reducing fares for more people will increase ridership. The TransformTO technical report states that "providing free, widespread transit is a key equity measure, ensuring access to jobs and services for all in Toronto." 

Toronto City Council approved the Fair Pass transit discount program in 2016, and in February 2022 directed staff to proceed with implementation of the next phase of the Fair Pass program as quickly as possible. But the program is not fully funded and has not been expanded to all low-income earners in Toronto. 

The Fair Pass discount program is needed, but its $2.10 fares and $123.25 monthly passes are too expensive for people receiving social assistance. The small available discount, means-testing requirements, and the complex application procedure creates barriers to accessing the program: The percentage of eligible Toronto residents using the Fair Pass program is low and declining, with 26% of eligible people using the discount in 2019, 22% in 2020, and 16% in 2021 (though some decline is attributable to the pandemic).

13. Will you immediately fund the 3rd phase of the Fair Pass low income transit discount program in the 2023 municipal budget?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"I would give them non transferrable passes so they never get ticketed going from shelters to food banks."

Yes

14. Will you begin implementing fare free public transit, starting with people who receive social assistance, high school students, and on extreme weather alert days? 

In January 2022, staff told Councillors that while the Fair Pass program "is important and helpful, it's still very high for low income folks to be able to access," and reported that staff are considering creating a 4th phase that would deepen the discount.

Expanding free TTC to high school students can create transit users for life and reduce the fare policing youth experience. A Kingston, Ontario program to provide free transit passes to high school students, along with an on-bus orientation session to teach students how to ride the bus, has increased overall transit ridership by 73% since 2012. 

Some drop-ins have TTC tokens or tickets available on extreme weather alert days, but these are of little use to individuals who are trying to make their way to a shelter or drop-in.

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"PRESTO card discounts should be given to those that need it and not all high school students."

Yes

15. The TTC Board has approved fare capping in principle. Will you support funding for fare capping?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam


"Too complicated. People approved should be given non transferable free travel PRESTO cards."

Yes

16. Will you champion provincial funding for fair fare integration so that all riders travelling within Toronto  pay a single flat fare between TTC, GO, and Union Pearson Express and enjoy a free transfer across municipal boundaries?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam


No

Yes

17. Will you oppose fare-by-distance within Toronto or other integration models that would deepen inequality?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam


No

Yes

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ISSUE: Scarborough RT Closure

Line 3 Scarborough RT will close in 2023, at least 7 years before a subway replacement opens. Commutes will get 15 minutes longer and more than one bus per minute (70 buses per hour) will be needed to replace the Scarborough RT train service. The TTC has voted to transform the decommissioned Scarborough RT rail corridor into a bus-only corridor when the RT closes in 2023, which will save 10 minutes, but this will take 2 years to construct. A short-term solution is needed so replacement buses don’t get stuck in traffic. There is a unique opportunity to increase connectivity and transform this Scarborough landmark into a linear park. Free transfers between the TTC and GO network would also immediately create more rapid transit options in Scarborough to mitigate the impact of the RT closure.

18. 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 RT service when it closes?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

"Needs to be part of a whole program to include bike and walking lanes"

Yes

19. Will you support transforming the decommissioned RT rail corridor into a bus-only corridor when the Scarborough RT closes in 2023?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

Pledge to vote for transit

ISSUE: Safety and Dignity for All Riders

Public transit should be a positive, dignified, and safe experience for all. Transit users have been sharing broad safety concerns throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, such as inadequate promotion of face masks, crowding on buses, an uptick of anti-Asian racism, and more.  There is safety in numbers: The best way to improve safety is to attract more transit users back to the system and expand supportive staff roles. Snowstorms and subway shutdowns for maintenance are unavoidable. But the TTC must be more proactive to ensure rider safety and better communication during both extreme weather events and planned subway closures.

20. Will you work with us to improve winter and pedestrian safety at bus, streetcar, and Wheel-Trans stops?

This involves snow and ice clearing to ensure all riders can safely board their bus or streetcar during the winter, expanding signalized mid-block crossings, and improving amenities at stops.

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

21. Will you work with us to advance our vision for transit safety that does not expand policing?

This involves developing a strategy to end racism and gender-based violence and harassment on transit, advocating to end fare enforcement and redirecting resources into supportive staff roles, and more.

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

22. Will you work with us to improve riders’ everyday experience navigating the TTC?

This involves more supportive staff in subway stations, wifi on all vehicles, improving subway shutdown plans (wayfinding and communication with riders, road priority for shuttle buses), and introducing an accessible wayfinding standard (using graphics, Braille, visual and audio announcements, and translating construction and emergency notices into languages other than English).

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

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ISSUE: Expanding Public Transit

The provincial government and Metrolinx took over several key rapid transit projects in June 2019 under Bill 107. The Eglinton East and Waterfront LRT projects remain City of Toronto projects that will require City Council’s support to become a reality.

23. Will you champion the expansion of Scarborough’s rapid transit network, including the Eglinton East LRT from Kennedy Station to Malvern, connecting to Sheppard East and McCowan?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

24. Will you champion funding for the Waterfront LRT and its westward expansion into South Etobicoke?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

Pledge to vote for transit

ISSUE: Keeping Transit Public

The billions of dollars being spent on rapid transit expansion in Toronto should benefit the public and local communities, including renters and low-income and racialized residents.

25. Will you support strong Community Benefits Agreements for new rapid transit projects in Toronto?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

26. Will you support rapid public transit expansion that is publicly owned, operated and maintained?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

27. Will you be a strong voice to Metrolinx and the provincial government to stand up for the interests of TTC users and Toronto residents?

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

  

Yes

28. Will you oppose contracting out TTC jobs and services? 

Philip Davidovits Evan Sambasivam

Yes

Yes

Pledge to Vote for Transit

Toronto votes on October 24, 2022 for City Councillors, Mayor, and School Trustees.

Add your name to show that transit riders need change - and that you will vote.

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Pledge to vote on October 24 for candidates who will improve public transit. 

Take action

Protect Door-to-Door Wheel-Trans Service!
Tell your City Councillor: Freeze TTC Fares
Bus lanes now
Work For Us
Tell Your MP: Sign the Transit Pledge
Add your name for Fare Capping!
Keep and Expand Free TTC Wi-Fi!

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