Thanks to all of you who called your City Councillor asking them to support a motion to put $5 million from our $100 million surplus back into TTC operations for 2013. This money would have alleviated the need for another five cent fare increase. Unfortunately the motion was lost (14 - 31). It is especially discouraging since the TTC generated a $22 million surplus from overcrowding last year due to service cuts -money that could have been used for a fare freeze or to lower fares. Instead it was funnelled back into City coffers.
How Do We Pay For New Public Transit Infrastructure?
TTCriders will be attending public consultation meetings being hosted by the City of Toronto and the Provincial agency, Metrolinx. if you want to join us email us at [email protected] We are also developing a position statement on the issue of how we fund public transit.
TTCriders present at Budget Town Hall
TTCriders spoke to residents of Ward 29 (Toronto-Danforth) at their Budget Town Hall at the East York Civic Centre on January 7, 2013. Councillor Mary Fragedakis invited TTCriders, along with the Toronto Arts Council and Social Planning Toronto, to give presentations on how the upcoming budget will affect various city services. Two members of the TTCriders Steering Committee spoke briefly on issues facing transit today, and what the upcoming budget means for TTC users. Residents and a member of the media were curious about the recent cut to the TTC Wheel-Trans budget that has left 800 dialysis patients without long-term guaranteed transportation to their appointments, and also about transit funding from other levels of government.
Tell your City Councillor to say no to another unfair fare increase
Sign up to become a member today!
Last October TTCriders held its founding meeting. Dozens of transit users, activists, and volunteers gathered at North York Civic Centre and committed to improving transit in Toronto by helping TTCriders become a fully fledged transit advocacy organization. That initial meeting set the stage for some extraordinary growth in the last year.
TTCriders continues to oppose 5-cent fare increase
TTCriders spoke out against the 5-cent fare increase proposed at today's Toronto Transit Commission meeting.
We argued that public transit benefits all Torontonians, yet riders are being penalized for choosing "the better way." City Hall contributes the least amount per rider than any other jurisdiction in Canada and the U.S.
Register to attend the TTC Commission Meeting
Take action now for electric trains and a fully-integrated rapid transit connection to Pearson airport
On October 18th, 2012, a
private member’s bill
is being introduced asking the Ontario Government and Metrolinx to consider the
New Toronto transit lines to be run by TTC, not private operator.
Wednesday morning, October 3rd, brought the welcome news that, after a week of intense negotiations with the TTC, the provincial government has changed its mind about turning over the operation of the new Light Rail lines to a private company.
Read TTCriders' member Joell Vanderwagen's Toronto Star op-ed called "The downside of privately run transit lines within the TTC"
Well done Joell for writing a great piece on the downside of privately run transit lines.
Read Joell's op ed below.
The downside of privately run transit lines within the TTC
Published on Wednesday September 26, 2012 Toronto StarRead Steve Munro's article about the perils of privatization
Transit Advocate, Steve Munro, has written a compelling piece on the perils of privatization. Steve wrote the article in response to the recent announcement by Metrolinx that the agency wants Toronto's LRT lines to be "designed, built, financed, operated, and maintained by a private sector partner, not by the TTC."
Take action: say 'no' to the privatization of the Eglinton, Finch, and Sheppard Light Rail Lines
Ontario Government Agency, Metrolinx, announced its plans to allow a private company to build AND RUN the new Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown, Finch and Sheppard light rail lines. According to a comprehensive TTC study, a privately run light rail line will likely mean increased construction costs, less public influence over the project, and delays in completion. We believe the new light rail lines should be publicly-run and controlled by the TTC.