When the November Service Changes were released, we saw that service was being slashed on 20 routes and immediately suspected that these were cuts. In the past month, the TTC has intentionally misled the public to believe that these changes were merely routine tweaks to match service to ridership. Through Ben Spurr, we now know that if the TTC was only making changes to match service to ridership, service would have been improved on 43 routes. Zero of the improvements were made.
TTC is misleading transit riders about Sunday’s service cuts
TTC is misleading transit riders about Sunday’s service cuts
Through this smokescreen, the TTC has been denying that these cuts are the direct impact of Mayor John Tory’s refusal to properly fund transit in Toronto.
We have learned not to trust John Tory. Even this morning, as undeniable evidence of the cuts broke, he continues to claim that he will “not let service suffer” through his slash and burn budgets.
As transit riders, we have been suffering with insufficient service for years. Whereas the situation could improve with adequate funding, it will instead get a bit worse starting Sunday on these routes:
7 Bathurst
11 Bayview
29 Dufferin
56 Leaside
35 Jane
43 Kennedy
57 Midland
68 Warden
73 Royal York
79 Scarlett Rd
90 Vaughan
108 Downsview
121 Fort York-Esplanade
124 Sunnybrook
129 McCowan North
133 Neilson
161 Rogers Rd
168 Symington
504 King
514 Cherry
For all riders who use these routes and want to see the ways in which they are getting worse, check our running list on the page John Tory’s Transit Cuts.
On that same page, we also list the routes where service would have improved on Sunday if John Tory was not starving the TTC.
John Tory holds himself out as the “Transit Mayor,” a claim that is completely detached from objective fact. It is true that he has made some investments in transit, and made sure that everyone knew through his multiple press conferences. Starting Sunday, Tory's budget cuts begin. And if he has his way in 2017, this situation will be much, much, much worse.