More than 80 TTC riders turned up at the December 14th TTC
meeting to speak out against service cuts and being forced to pay more money for
less transit service. The voices of TTCriders from all across Toronto were heard
On
TTCriders is concerned with the news reported in the Toronto Star that Metrolinx is considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the designing, construction and operation of the proposed Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT line. We are concerned about how this decision could impact transit users in Toronto. For example,
Public outcry has exploded as Torontonians found out there will be cuts to 56 bus routes and 6 streetcar lines in the wards they travel through because of a 10% budget cut forced by City Hall. As a result, TTCriders issued a letter today asking Councillor Stintz, Chair of the TTC, to help stop the cuts and fare hike.
Today TTCriders revealed information from a secret TTC report that shows the City’s proposed 10% cut to the TTC’s operating subsidy will mean longer waits for more crowded buses and streetcars on routes in every ward in the City. Click this link to our media release and the list of service cuts:
On October 25th, over 50 people braved the rain and attended our TTCriders meeting at the North York Civic Centre. Here’s a summary of what went down.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Jamie Kirkpatrick from TEA gave a brief history of the TTCriders. The group was founded in Dec. 2009 in response to the proposed (and approved) TTC fare hike. Since then, the Riders have organized to stop the proposed bus cuts, advocated for the Transit City plan, and educated voters about mass transit during the 2010 city elections. Check out Jamie's presentation.Check out the excellent message we got from Councillor Joe Mihevc in response to our letter:
Hi,Thank you for your letter stating your desire for a strong and healthy TTC.
I oppose cutting TTC services and I will advocate increasing services during this time of increasing ridership.
The Toronto Transit Commission meets on October 19th at 1:00pm in Committee Room # 2 in Toronto City Hall. Click here to review the agenda for their meeting.
Steve Munro, Toronto's expert TTC advocate, has published a preview of the TTC meeting which can be found on his blog.
On Tuesday October 25th TTCriders will meet to discuss the current state of public transit in Toronto.
This meeting will include a question and answer session with special guest, Chris Upfold, the TTC's Chief Customer Service Officer. Mr. Upfold has agreed to attend the meeting, answer questions transit riders have, and he has stated his interest in working WITH US to help improve the TTC.
At their special budget meeting this morning, the Transit Commission ignored the pleas of transit riders and approved an Operating Budget that will reduce TTC service throughout the city in 2012.
At a time of record ridership, it is even more of a major step backward to reduce TTC service. The budget adopted by the Commission means riders can look forward to even more crowding on TTC vehicles, reductions in the frequency of buses, and less transit vehicles operating during rush hour on some of the TTC’s busiest routes.
Mayor Rob Ford is forcing the TTC to make bad business decisions by imposing an absolute 10% cut to TTC funding. With more riders than at any time in the TTC’s 90 year history, cuts to TTC service are completely unjustifiable!