May 7, 2022 (Toronto, ON) — 150 Scarborough transit users and youth leaders rallied this afternoon for better public transit in advance of the provincial election. Eleven provincial election candidates from the NDP, Liberal, and Green parties walked on a "red carpet" bus lane to show their support for public transit improvements in Scarborough, and signed a pledge committing to fund more bus service, integrated fares between TTC and GO, and building the Eglinton East LRT. Two municipal candidates signed a pledge to install more bus lanes by 2023.
"It's not fair that Scarborough residents will have less rapid transit in 2023 than we do today. All provincial parties must commit to investing in more frequent bus service now, because we’ll be taking replacement buses for at least 7 years when the Scarborough RT closes in 2023,” said TTCriders spokesperson Zain Khurram. “It’s time to fund the long-delayed Eglinton East LRT to Malvern and to unlock more rapid transit in Scarborough overnight with free transfers between TTC and GO train service.”
When the Scarborough RT closes in 2023, residents will take replacement buses between Kennedy Station and Scarborough Town Centre for at least seven years, until the Scarborough subway extension opens in 2030. Transit user group TTCriders says provincial investment in bus service, free GO-TTC transfers, and the Eglinton East LRT is urgently needed to mitigate the impact of the RT closure on 35,000 daily commuters.
Scarborough youth leader Keerthy Krishnakumar addressed the rally: “Most Scarborough residents like me travel within Scarborough, not to downtown. That's why we are asking all parties to invest in more bus service now and to fund the Eglinton East LRT to Malvern.”
"Scarborough students deserve rapid transit to our campus. But when the RT closes in 2023, we'll have even less rapid transit in Scarborough. All levels of government must commit to funding the Eglinton East LRT and more frequent and affordable bus service now," said Thai Dillon Higashihara, Vice President External of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union.
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Photos: www.ttcriders.ca/7may2022
List of provincial election candidates who signed the transit pledge:
Benjamin Truong (NDP candidate for Scarborough-Agincourt)
Doly Begum (MPP and NDP candidate for Scarborough Southwest)
Felicia Samuel (NDP candidate for Scarborough Rouge Park)
Justin Kong (NDP candidate for Scarborough North)
Lisa Patel (Liberal candidate for Scarborough Southwest)
Manal Abdullahi (Liberal candidate for Scarborough Rouge Park)
Mazhar Shafiq (Liberal candidate for Scarborough Centre)
Mitzie Hunter (MPP and Liberal candidate for Scarborough-Guildwood)
Soo Wong (Liberal candidate for Scarborough-Agincourt)
Veronica Javier (NDP candidate for Scarborough-Guildwood)
List of municipal election candidates who signed the transit pledge:
Jamaal Myers (City Council candidate, Scarborough North)
Kevin Rupasinghe (City Council candidate, Scarborough Southwest)
Pledge text:
As provincial MPP, I pledge to:
1. Provide operations funding for transit.
The Scarborough RT replacement bus service requires $67 million to operate between 2023 and 2030. The TTC is facing budget shortfalls in the next two years as ridership continues to recover from the pandemic. Operating funding is needed to increase service, lower fares, and get more people riding transit.
2. Help fund the Eglinton East LRT.
Toronto City Council has allocated $1.2 billion to connect Kennedy Station to Malvern via UTSC. Now provincial and federal funding is needed.
3. Fund integration between GO and TTC.
One flat fare in Toronto will unlock more rapid transit access in Scarborough, which has 8 GO stations.
As City Councillor, I pledge to:
1. Expand bus lanes and transit priority by 2023
RapidTO increased bus reliability along Eglinton East, Kingston, and Morningside by 12%. Scarborough needs more bus lanes to make our trips faster and more reliable.
2. Increase bus service and make TTC more affordable.
Increase funding to the TTC to increase service and levels and lower fares for all. TTC is introducing fare capping, but it won’t help if the cost of monthly passes aren’t lowered. Fully fund the Fair Pass TTC discount for all low-income residents in 2023 and deepen the discount.