TTCriders Demands More Government Funding for TTC Service Improvements in Places like Liberty Village

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.

TTCriders is fully committed to keeping transit public. Public transit is accountable to riders and taxpayers and is therefore democratic. Public transit can be trusted to provide the best service possible given the proper funding. Proper funding of transit directly relates to the choices that we as riders make when we vote and make our voices heard every day on decisions that matter. But private companies are ultimately accountable to their shareholders NOT voters and residents like you and me. Private transit operators are no different.

TTCriders sympathizes with the people in Liberty Village who are having to resort to putting up their own money in order to ease their commutes. This is a direct result of underfunding by all levels of government.

The Provincial Government used to fund the TTC’s operating subsidy by 50% in the 1990’s. Not anymore. In fact nowadays users pay over 70% of operating costs to make up the difference. This is the highest user-supported transit system in North America. Governments all over North America fund their transit services better than in Toronto. By not funding our transit system adequately, the provincial and federal government are ultimately telling you that they don’t care enough about how long you have to wait for the 504 King streetcar or whether or not you pay more in order to take faster alternatives.

We call on Liberty Village residents to work with us to demand better transit for their neighbourhood and the whole city. Together we can do this by signing TTCriders’ petition to the Provincial government to fund transit better and by becoming more involved with TTCriders.

This is a real long-term solution for Liberty Village and for neighbourhoods in Toronto that have been underserved by transit for years.

For More Resources:

Letter to the TTC Commission by Councilor Mike Layton

Article from Transit Toronto on King streetcar improvements re-published from 2001. The problem hasn’t gone away.

Article on the Liberty Village Express

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