After the brief rally - it was COLD! - we went inside and packed the TTC
Commission meeting.
It was so full not all of us could get a seat. We had more people at the TTC budget meeting than the City Budget meeting next door.
Over 20 of us gave a deputation and shared our views on the operating TTC budget and the capital TTC budget.Jessica Marsden, who depends on social assistance while she upgrades her skills, told the TTC Commission she uses the TTC to go to school, volunteer and hand out resumes. She said if she buys a Metropass and pays her rent, she’s left with only $186 a month to meet her other expenses.
Helen Lui, of the Ontario Chinese Seniors Association, told the Commission that “some seniors walk for hours to save $1.85." (Helen is a retired hotel worker who lives on $1200 a month).
Brenda Thompson from Scarborough Transit Action said in her deputation that, "If we believed in public transit, we would reward riders instead of punishing them with fare increases."
TTC riders pay a higher percentage of the TTC’s operating costs than riders in all other North American transit systems. Even with the proposed service improvements - which are great - the government subsidy per ride the TTC receives will jump from about 80 cents to 85 cents. This is a big improvement from what riders got during the Ford era, but the TTC actually received more funding per ride (about 93 cents) under Mayor Miller.
In the end, the TTC Commission approved the good service improvements, and also the fare hike. The budget now needs to be approved by City Hall in the coming weeks.
TTC riders pay a higher percentage of the TTC’s operating costs than riders in
all other North American transit systems. Even with the proposed service
improvements - which are great - the government subsidy per ride the TTC
receives will jump from about 80 cents to 85 cents. This is a big improvement
from what riders got during the Ford era, but the TTC actually received more
funding per ride (about 93 cents) under Mayor Miller.
Globe and Mail,
City News,
MetroNews,
Toronto Star,
Global News, and more reported on our concerns. Read the stories and please comment. In
the end, the TTC Commission approved the service improvements, and also the fare
hike. The budget now needs to be approved by City Hall in the coming weeks.
TTCriders asked all federal MP candidates from the four major parties about their commitments to public transit. Read their responses to our transit policy survey and see where your candidates stand on improving public transit!
Transit and environmental groups across Canada have released the results of a policy survey on public transit commitments from federal parties. Candidates from the Liberal, New Democrat, and Green Parties provided responses or shared commitments in their party platform. See where federal parties stand on key transit issues ahead of this election!