“Transit in Toronto has fallen far behind with riders desperately craving improved service. Becoming a member of TTCriders is the most effective way you can help advocate for a brighter transit future for Toronto.” Geoffrey Singer signed up to become a member in March 2014.
TTCriders has sent letters to both Metrolinx and the City of Toronto as part of their respective consultation processes — The Big Move Roundtables and Feeling Congested.
Since the start of 2013, Metrolinx and the City of Toronto have been seeking public input into how they can raise sufficient revenue to pay for new transit construction in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Metrolinx currently has $34 billion worth of unfunded transit projects which it aims to build over the next 25 years. These new lines, which include Light Rail Rapid Transit, Bus Rapid Transit, Subways and Electrified Commuter Rail, will contribute to solving Toronto’s congestion, commuting time, and transit access crises. TTCriders commends both the Province and City for finally engaging in a serious discussion about funding transit expansion. We also recommend that this conversation be expanded to include funding options for transit operations, as transit riders already pay more than their fair share.
We are currently looking for volunteers to sit on our External Affairs Committee.
About the External Affairs Committee
As the ‘voice’ for TTCriders, the External Affairs Committee is responsible for establishing and executing campaigns, providing educational resources, participating in the public discussion on transit, and building partnerships with other stakeholders.
Toronto’s new Light Rapid Transit (LRT) network is an estimated $8.4 billion project. In addition to providing new, reliable, rapid transit for hundreds of thousands of people, the project potentially offers Torontonians the possibility of meaningful, well-paid work.
TTCriders is hosting its first Townhall of 2013 on March 20th at Metro Hall. Andy Byford, TTC Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Upfold, TTC Chief Customer Officer, will be in attendance to record and respond to your questions, compliments, complaints and general feedback about Downtown transit. Does your streetcar or bus constantly run behind schedule? Is your local subway station not as clean as it should be? Escalators always out of order? Then join us for a discussion about how to improve TTC service in Toronto-East York (Scarborough, Etobicoke-York and North York themed TransitTalks will follow throughout the year). TransitTalk is another way TTCriders aims to give transit users a voice. Space is limited, so RSVP today!
TTCriders welcomes the news of the TTC’s Customer Charter and its commitment to customer service for transit users. However, the new Charter fails to address many of the underlying issues that our public transit system faces.
Over the last few weeks, TTCriders has been busy attending public consultation meetings hosted by Metrolinx and the City of Toronto. The purpose of these consultations is to discuss how to pay for transit expansion projects across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, which are identified in the Regional Transportation Plan, The Big Move.
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.
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 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.
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.