Here is some of the analysis and thinking we have been doing over the last week since the budget draft came out. In short, we have a lot of investments to make if the City is going to work, many of the items on it cannot be delayed further, and there are some sensible ways to fund them, but they need some shifts in approach.
Toronto City Council will soon be deciding how much funding to allocate to the TTC in the 2020 City Budget. This budget will impact our transit system for years to come.
Toronto is running out of buses and streetcars. The TTC has a 5-Year Service Plan that won’t keep up with our growing city. And transit riders are facing fare increases, because the TTC does not receive enough funding from the City or other levels of government.
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Why do we need better transit? The Executive Committee will vote this Thursday November 14th on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Action Plan, which includes the next phase of the Fair Pass TTC discount.
But 27% of people surveyed reported that they cannot afford to use the Fair Pass. And it could be years before the Fair Pass is fully implemented so that all eligible low income people can use it.
It’s official. Premier Ford will drop his plans to take over the existing TTC subway system. This is a huge win for transit riders - thank you for being part of it! Together with our allies, more than 10,000 of us sent messages to our MPPs and 100s of us volunteered to stop the subway upload over the past year.
The October 21st federal election is your chance to vote for better public transit. Read TTCriders’ analysis below on the top transit issues facing Toronto, and what the federal parties are promising.
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Transit and safe streets advocates including TTCriders are calling on the provincial government to allow enforcement cameras on TTC streetcars. The TTC Board voted on September 24 to support enforcement cameras and to request that the Minister of Transportation to amend the Highway Traffic Act, 1990 to permit the operation of streetcar enforcement cameras to monitor and enforce traffic violations.
TTCriders is answering the call of students and youth who will be walking out of class on Friday September 27 to take action on the climate emergency. We need better transit now and lower fares as part of the transition to a green and fair economy. Our goal is to hand out 1000s of flyers to transit riders that ask people to join the #ClimateStrike mobilization on September 27th and to take action for better transit. TTCriders will also be marching as a contingent in the September 27th rally.
Sign up below to join our volunteer outreach team at summer events and street festivals. Help us reach more people about the province's TTC takeover, privatization agenda, and transit funding cuts. We'll bring materials; you just need to show up!