TTCriders' take on what's in store for TTC users in 2014

The Bad

Fares.  The TTC board has voted in favour of a five-cent increase on the price of a single adult token (from $2.65 to $2.70) and a five-dollar increase on the price of an adult Metropass (from $128 to $133.75). Cash fares will stay at $3.00. This sucks.  We are paying more for the same old service.  Also, fare hikes hurt TTC users, who already pay too much.  At Monday’s TTC Commission meeting rider after rider told the Commission that service must be increased and fare hikes aren’t the way to go. In her deputation to the Commission, Helen Liu of the Ontario Chinese Seniors Association said that low-income seniors are left making difficult choices because the cost of TTC fares are already so high.  “Their options are to eat less, remain isolated at home or walk to shopping and community centres,” she said. TTCriders member, Lisa Pozhke, told the Commission that TTC fares are going up faster than inflation, despite claims by Karen Stinz and the TTC.  “If fare hikes were indexed to inflation rates over the past 10 years, riders would be paying about $2.25 a bulk purchased token not $2.70,” she said.

Capital expansion shortfall.  The TTC needs an additional $2.7 billion to pay for their $9 billion dollar 10-year capital expansion plan.  If we don’t get this additional money we won’t get the new street cars, trains and buses we need to increase service.  Also, the TTC will fall behind on making the TTC more accessible, by, for instance, installing more elevators at stations and buying new Wheel-Trans vehicles.   That’s bad for disabled people, the elderly, the stroller users, the heavy-bag carriers, and the just plain tired.

The Average

Service levels will remain about the same, which means we’ll be just as crowded as before.   The city’s subsidy to the TTC is going up to $428 million, up from last year's $411 million.  Now this is better than the subsidy freeze we've had over the past few years, and we should thank ourselves for the pressure we've applied to contribute to getting that result.  That said, ridership levels are predicted to hit an absolute record high of 540 million for 2014 so the increase in funding will simple allow the TTC to just maintain current service standards.

The Hopeful

The TTC publicly called for the city to fund the TTC at 2010 subsidy per rider levels, which sat at about 93 cents a ride.  If approved, the TTC would see another $70 million in funding.  Not bad.  This is also a demand that TTCriders' had and we pleased it was incorporated into the budget. Still, we’re still not doing that great even if the city gives us a bigger injection of funds.  All major transit systems across North America get a much higher government subsidy per ride than Toronto does.  If Toronto received the same subsidy per rider as Vancouver, the TTC’s budget would jump from $1.5 billion to nearly $2.5 billion.  Imagine what kind of service we’d get if we had that much money!!  But it’s a start.  The TTC Commission also called for the province and the federal government to regularly contribute funding to the TTC.  This could be just a passing-the-buck exercise, however, the TTC is setting up a fundraising committee that includes Andy Byford and Karen Stinz, so let’s see.

The Possibility

You are the possibility.  Our elected officials will properly fund the TTC so we can have better service and more affordable fares now if they hear from Toronto’s million daily riders. We generate that political will when we get politically active. Rob Ford’s 2010 populist election platform included a promise to eliminate the $60 vehicle registration tax.  Interestingly, the Metropass fare hike will take an equivalent $63 out of riders’ wallets.   With two elections expected, 2014 needs to be the year of the rider revolt.

Take Action

This TTC budget is to be sent to City Council for approval.  Now is the time to tell our city and provincial elected officials to properly fund the TTC so service can be expanded and fares reduced, especially for those in financial need.  Send your message today: http://bit.ly/HAyCnh Become a TTCriders member.  Your support helps us mobilize riders and generate the political will necessary to convince our elected officials to get us a fair deal for riders. http://www.ttcriders.ca/become-a-ttcriders-member/