Advocacy group reveals mayoral candidate transit pledges
(Toronto, ON) — Transit advocacy group TTCriders revealed mayoral candidate answers to a transit issues survey this morning at Spadina subway station, and issued warnings about four candidates whose policies, or lack thereof, raise “red flags” for transit riders. The group will hold a public forum on Tuesday, June 20th at 6pm at 58 Cecil Street to discuss the survey results and debate which candidate has the best transit plan.
“Toronto’s next mayor must reverse TTC service cuts and invest in rebuilding ridership,” said 35 Jane bus rider Laura Vu. “Bus riders like me are counting on the next mayor to install more red bus lanes so we don’t get stuck in traffic, and to make the TTC more reliable and affordable.”
“Do you ride the TTC? Be warned: some mayoral candidates do not plan to reverse service cuts or make transit more affordable,” TTCriders spokesperson Chloe Tangpongpursh.
“Ana Bailão gets a red flag because she has not committed to making transit more affordable, installing more bus and streetcar priority lanes, or building the Scarborough RT replacement busway if the province does not fund its construction.”
“Anthony Furey gets a red flag because he wants to get rid of red bus lanes. Scarborough transit users will need bus lanes and better service more than ever after the Scarborough RT closes this Fall.”
“Mark Saunders gets a red flag because he won’t commit to making transit more affordable or build the Scarborough RT replacement busway if the province does not fund its construction.”
“Brad Bradford gets a red flag because he has not made any commitments to reverse TTC service cuts,” Tangpongprush said.
Although Brad Bradford did not respond to the 2023 TTCriders mayoral candidate survey, in 2020 he voted in favour of studying a commercial parking levy. Before the 2022 municipal election, Bradford pledged to oppose cuts to transit service, but did not act on the promise during the 2023 municipal budget process, when TTC service was reduced.
In addition to hosting a public forum on June 20th to discuss the survey results with transit users, TTCriders will be releasing video interviews with top candidates and volunteers will be speaking with transit users across Toronto at TTC stations.
The TTCriders survey asked all mayoral candidates about their commitments to rebuilding transit ridership by installing bus and streetcar priority corridors, protecting Wheel-Trans services, funding the Fair Pass TTC discount for low-wage workers, building a Scarborough RT replacement busway, and raising revenues for transit with a commercial lot levy on big malls.
Mayoral candidate survey responses: www.TTCriders.ca/mayor2023