Here's how we can make the TTC's new express bus plan even better

Here's a summary of the plan

• 29 Dufferin
• 37 Islington
• 52 Lawrence West
• 89 Weston
• 102 Markham Road

• 41 Keele
• 53 Steeles East
• 60 Steeles West
• 84 Sheppard West, west of Sheppard West Station
• 85 Sheppard East, east of Midland Avenue
• 95 York Mills
• 96 Wilson
• 198 University of Toronto Scarborough Rocket

Here's what we think

The worrying news is we won't get better bus service for years.  For 2017-2018, the only improvements are rebranding existing service and a pilot for all-door boarding on the Airport Rocket. The first route improvements wouldn’t start until 2019 and new express routes don’t start until 2020. Full implementation of the plan would not be complete until 2026, meaning it will take 9 years to get 12 new express routes.  We need a quicker rollout.

The rollout needs to be more expansive.  Only 4 of the proposed 12 new routes would be all-day express service, with the remaining 8 routes only running rush hour express service.  The reality is we need 10 minutes or better service on all bus routes across the city, and we definitely need more service to tackle the major overcrowding issues we're experiencing on many buses. 

We need to do more to give buses a fairer share of the road.  Traffic light priority and queue jump lanes are a good start, but they do not produce the speed and reliability improvements that can be gained from fully dedicated bus lanes on entire routes.  

We are concerned about the elimination of the five downtown express bus routes.  The TTC says these routes are not attracting ridership.  We believe the TTC should move forward on letting riders pay a normal TTC fare on these downtown express bus routes, and not double TTC fare.  This ensures that fast transit is available to low and moderate income people too.  

This plan depends on the money being available, but there is no money available. City Council just asked the TTC to freeze its budget for 2018, which will, once again, force the TTC into facing a significant budget shortfall for 2018.  This will result in service cuts if funding is not provided by the City. Ultimately, without sufficient funding for the existing system, the express bus plan may end up taking away resources from other bus routes across the city, resulting in reduced service elsewhere. The TTC needs to be fairly funded. 

Call or write your councillor to call for improved bus service on all routes and for buses to have a fair share of the road.

Sample letter (please copy, paste, and adapt)

Councillors' contact information are below the sample letter

Dear Councillor:

I am writing to you today about last Thursday’s announcement of plans to expand and improve the express bus network. This plan will be voted on in tomorrow's TTC Commission meeting. The plan's implementation is subject to funding availability so it is a matter that every councillor gets to decide on.

The plan includes: 

• 12 new express bus routes.  Five have been identified already. They are: 29 Dufferin, 37 Islington, 52 Lawrence West, 89 Weston, 102 Markham Road
• Improvements to up to 8 existing express routes. They are: 41 Keele, 53 Steeles East, 60 Steeles West, 84 Sheppard West (west of Sheppard West Station), 85 Sheppard East (east of Midland Avenue), 95 York Mills, 96 Wilson, 198 University of Toronto Scarborough Rocket
• The possible elimination of the 5 double-fare downtown express bus routes.
• All door boarding, prioritized traffic lights, and traffic queue jump lanes would be implemented across the system for further improvements in service.

The worrying news is we won't get better bus service for years.  For 2017-2018, the only improvements are rebranding existing service and a pilot for all-door boarding on the Airport Rocket. The first route improvements wouldn’t start until 2019 and new express routes don’t start until 2020. Full implementation of the plan would not be complete until 2026, meaning it will take 9 years to get 12 new express routes.  We need a quicker rollout.

The rollout needs to be more expansive.  Only 4 of the proposed 12 new routes would be all-day express service, with the remaining 8 routes only running rush hour express service.  The reality is we need 10 minutes or better service on all bus routes across the city, and we definitely need more service to tackle the overcrowding issue. 

We need to do more to give buses a fairer share of the road.  Traffic light priority and queue jump lanes are a good start, but they do not produce the speed and reliability improvements that can be gained from fully dedicated bus lanes on entire routes.  

We are concerned about the elimination of the 5 downtown express bus routes.  The TTC says these routes are not attracting ridership.  We believe the TTC should move forward on letting riders pay a normal TTC fare on these routes, and not double fare.  This ensures that fast transit is available to low and moderate income people too. 

This plan depends on the money being available, but there's no money available. City Council just asked the TTC to freeze its budget for 2018, which will, once again, force the TTC into facing a significant budget shortfall for 2018.  This will result in service cuts if funding is not provided by the City. Ultimately, without sufficient funding for the existing system, the express bus plan may end up taking away resources from other bus routes across the city, resulting in reduced service elsewhere. The TTC needs to be fairly funded. 

We look forward to your response.

Thanks,