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.
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.
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!
At their July 2011 meeting Toronto City Council voted 41 - 1 to adopt the following motion:
City Council call on all three Ontario Political Parties to make public commitments to reinstate the "fair share" funding arrangement for the Toronto Transit Commission.
The Toronto Transit Commission meets on June 8th at 1:00 pm with a packed agenda. Here are some of the big items before the Commission on Wednesday:
- A preliminary 2012 Operating Budget showing a shortfall of at least $39 million. This shortfall doesn't include the added costs of collective bargaining after the TTC has been declared an essential service. This new reality could add another $20 or $30 million in expenses to the operating budget.