The City Planning department is currently considering a proposal for more public transit options for residents in south Scarborough, as well as the University of Toronto Scarborough. Here's the proposed, updated transit map, courtesy of City of Toronto public documents:
Last month, Mayor John Tory proposed a tax levy to raise $65 million a year (by 2020), through an increase in property taxes, to pay for new transit and housing projects. We support the proposal, but we think the mayor's vision for transit isn't nearly bold enough to address our current public transit crisis. The mayor's proposed tax levy will raise less than $20 million per year on average, when our transit needs are $1.4 billion per year over the next decade.
On Wednesday, TTC CEO Andy Byford confirmed that Bombardier would deliver 55 new streetcars by the end of 2016. If Bombardier delivers on this promise -- and so far, they have not delivered on any of their promises -- they will be one year behind their delivery schedule.
As of December 2015, less than half of TTC 69 subway and RT station stops are accessible to those that use wheelchairs or other mobility aids[1]. The TTC has a mandate and a legal responsibility under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to install elevators and other accessibility features in all subway stations, but 17 station upgrades are unfunded[2][3][4].
With the impending widespread implementation of Presto on the TTC it is possible that there could be proposal to change the TTC fare structure from the current “single-ride within Toronto” arrangement.
The planned privatization of 60% of Hydro One (whose very creation in this form was the result of deregulation and ultimately privatization), is a project that hurts those of us who use and advocate for public mass transportation. As public transit users and advocates for its expansion, affordability and availability, we argue against this move.
By: Marco
TTCriders does not believe that private companies such as the Liberty Village Express can be a viable long-term solution to the inadequate transit service that downtown communities like Liberty Village are facing.
EDIT (March 3, 2016): This position has been updated to reflect a new name, the Relief Line, instead of the Downtown Relief Line. Also, we have changed our preferred north terminus from Eglinton to Sheppard.
As the city begins to emerge from winter’s fierce grasp, the merits of making buses and streetcars free on the TTC’s overnight Blue Line service during Cold Alerts seem especially clear.
City services provided during Cold Alerts to those who are homeless reflect a vision of Toronto as a caring community: Warming Centres, street outreach to bring more people into city shelters, and health care for those who get frostbite and hypothermia. It only makes sense for the city to also provide free transit at night to make it much easier for those on the street to get to a warm place to sleep.