Media Release: TTCriders says sale of TTC public land a rip-off

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

TTCriders says sale of TTC public land a rip-off

(Toronto, ON) January 11, 2018 - TTCriders is concerned about Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek’s recent statement that the province will sell the “air rights” over every subway station to developers if its plan to take over aspects of the TTC succeeds.

“The province has been telling us they want to split up our transit system to make it more efficient, but this reveals their true agenda,” said Mike Sullivan, TTCriders board member, former Member of Parliament, and member of the federal transportation committee. “Yurek’s statement provides a glimpse at the province’s real intention of robbing the TTC of its most valuable parts: subway lines and the public land above them.”

Michael Lindsay, the special advisor appointed to assess a potential takeover of Toronto’s subway system, put together a first report for the province, which was kept from the public. In an interview with the Toronto Star, Yurek said it remains confidential because there are “commercially sensitive” aspects in the report that would “affect somebody getting a leg up on potential sales.”

TTCriders echoes the concerns of many residents and riders about the province prioritizing the bottom lines of developers over improving Toronto’s public transit system.

“The best way to improve our transit system is to fund it properly,” said Sullivan.

TTCriders is holding regular canvasses at transit stops across Toronto to inform transit riders about the pitfalls of a split transit system and the potential for a two-tier fare structure.

 

Contact:

Daniel Tseghay

[email protected]

647-220-9739

Latest posts

How are your Don Valley West candidates promising to improve public transit?

We’ve asked candidates whether they’ll invest in more TTC service, protect door-to-door Wheel-Trans service, expand TTC’s low-income discount, approve fare capping and more. View candidates’ detailed answers to our survey, information about their transit platforms, and more.

Letter & Survey: TTC must exchange expired tokens and tickets

Do you still have TTC tokens or paper senior/student tickets or day passes? The TTC has announced that they will stop accepting TTC tokens and paper tickets after December 31, 2024. But the TTC will not be issuing exchanges. This is unfair to people who have saved up tokens and tickets, especially low-income seniors. Gift cards and permanent stamps never expire --  why are transit fares any different?

“Rally to Fix the TTC” calls for investment in repairing subway slow zones during National Transit Week

(Toronto, ON) – Transit advocacy organization TTCriders will hold a rally today at 5:00pm outside Bathurst Subway Station to call on federal Members of Parliament to invest in TTC repairs and new subway trains on Line 2 by accelerating implementation of the Canada Public Transit Fund. The rally is part of a national “Transit Action Week” being organized in 5 Canadian cities. (Cantonese, Mandarin, French spokespeople available.)

Take action

Add your name for Fare Capping!
Tell Your MP: Sign the Transit Pledge
Bus lanes now
Protect Wheel-Trans Service
Keep and Expand Free TTC Wi-Fi!

Connect with us