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 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.
On October 18th, 2012, a
private member’s bill
is being introduced asking the Ontario Government and Metrolinx to consider the
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.
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 StarTransit 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."
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.
Today, TTCriders released its first ever report card evaluating the TTC’s performance from the perspective of TTC users.
The report card rates the TTC on how well it has done in achieving five goals important to TTC users which are key parts of TTCriders' Vision: creating fair and affordable fares; building modern, fast transit to all corners of the city as fast as possible; making public transit fully accessible transit; providing frequent service that connects all of Toronto; and environmental sustainability.
Thank you so much for contacting your elected official! Your voice matters.
Make our voice stronger! Sign up to become a TTCriders member! -
All membership fees go towards helping TTCriders organize and implement campaigns, underake ward and neighbourhood level advocacy and engage with key decision makers at Toronto City Hall, Queens Park and the Toronto Transit Commision.