What’s in the Ontario Budget for TTC riders?

Yesterday's provincial budget had good news and bad news for transit riders. Here’s the short story: The Liberal government is promising new transit and GO discounts, but TTC riders won’t see better service. There was also a troubling announcement that has us worried about transit privatization.

Read our column on Toronto.com about the budget.

Public transit will be front and centre in the upcoming Ontario election. Want to get involved with our campaigns for an affordable, world-class public transit system? Come to our next organizing meeting on Monday, April 9 from 6pm-8pm. Please RSVP.

Read on below for our thoughts about what the budget means for TTC riders. The provincial budget can be read here.

New transit funding, but not for service

The provincial budget includes previously-announced funding for transit expansion, but not funding to subsidize the TTC’s operating costs. With new transit projects years away, we need improved service now. Our transit system is deeply unaffordable, and delays and overcrowding are the new normal.

The province’s commitment on March 14th of $4.04 billion is earmarked for new projects and contingent on the City contributing 27 per cent. Funding for transit expansion is good news, but the TTC also needs a stable source of funding to subsidize its operating costs.

Uploading the subways?

The province also announced their intention take over the TTC’s subway lines and to “explore whether major transit assets, particularly heavy rail can be optimized with a different ownership model.” TTCriders is concerned that this could open the door for the TTC to be privatized.

Fare integration

In a win for transit riders, the province has committed to lowering the cost of GO trips within Toronto to $3 per trip for PRESTO users. GO trips under 10km will cost $3. Trips between the TTC and neighbouring transit agencies will be discounted $1.50 for PRESTO users.

The discounts form part of Metrolinx’s fare integration plan to harmonize fares across the GTHA. Fair fare integration could be good for transit riders, but we have many concerns with Metrolinx’s approach. Fair fare integration means:

Two-hour fare transfers usable across municipal boundaries, including the TTC.
No fare hikes or loss of service for any rider. If discounts are going to be provided – and they should – other riders shouldn’t have to pay for it with higher fares or service cuts.
No fare by distance within local transit systems. It’s not fair to make low income riders who live outside the downtown core to pay more for transit.
One fare for the 416. It makes sense to have a single transferable fare across all transit options, including GO, UPX, Smart Track, bus, streetcar, subway, and LRT. TTC’s unified fare system is a key feature of our transit system and should not be sacrificed on the altar of fare integration.
Faster transit shouldn’t cost more than slower transit on municipal transit. Creating a two-tiered transit system will force lower income riders onto slower and more unreliable service like buses and streetcars.

Want to get involved in our campaigns for an affordable, world-class public transit system in this key time? RSVP to our next open meeting on Monday, April 9.

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