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."
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.
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With the best of intentions, Premier Dalton McGuinty created Metrolinx as the provincial agency charged with developing a regional transit network for the Greater Toronto Area, building on the existing GO Transit commuter system.
Let’s do the positive news first. The TTC Commission approved a motion to request the City allocate an additional $2.1 million to the TTC’s operating budget to expand public transit service in Toronto. With a record number of more than 512 million rides expected to be taken on the TTC in 2012, we’re pleased the TTC Commission approved the motion to direct most of the projected increase in revenue from rider fares back into the TTC.
At this Wednesday's TTC Commission meeting there is a motion to ask City Council for additional funds needed to improve transit service on several overcrowded routes. The TTC has finally recognized they need to operate more service to meet the needs of the incredibly increasing number of riders.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Metrolinx, Bruce McCuaig, replied to our May 1st Letter regarding Metrolinx's Toronto Transit Expansion plans.
TTCriders were thrilled to hear back from Metrolinx so soon after we contacted them. In his May 9th letter Mr. McCuaig said there were several factors that have impacted the schedule (for the Sheppard East LRT) including:
If you live or work in the community where the Eglinton Crosstown line will be built, you might want attend one of these upcoming consultation meetings.
Community Consultation Meetings Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Planning Study
On May 1st TTCriders sent a letter to Metrolinx Chair Robert Prichard congratulating him on the approval of the Toronto Transit Expansion Plan and asking a few questions about the timing of the projects.
At their meeting on April 25th the Board of Directors of Metrolinx unanimously
approved the Toronto Light Rail Transit (LRT) expansion plan. This plan sets out
the new construction timelines for the 4 LRT lines that were officially endorsed